Tuesday, April 7, 2020

New Bullion Flower

Good Afternoon Everyone,

It has been a long while since I did a blog post, but Corona Virus Isolation = more play time.
I have been encouraging everyone to practice the Crochet Bullion Stitch, so this afternoon I  experimented with a new Bullion Flower, instructions below. If you scroll down a post or two, I have a pattern for a cute chemo cap with a flower, you can substitute the flower with the Bullion flower and make a few of the caps for your local hospital. Have Fun!

Margaret


New Bullion Flower  and leaf                                          Margaret Hubert 4-7-2020
Special Stiches Used:  Bullion Stitch; Wrap yarn over hook 10 ten times, pick up a loop in designated stitch,  yarn over and draw through all 10 wraps,  yarn over and pull through remaining loop on hook to lock stitch.  Do not pull tightly, but leave thread as long as the bullion stitch. 
Foundation Round: Chain 5, join with a slip stitch to form a ring.  Ch 3 (cts as dc) , make 9 dc in the ring, join with a slip stitch, to top of beg ch 3.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, work 2 sc from back loop,  in each stitch around, join with a slip stitch to beg ch 1. 
Round 2: Work bullion petals as follows:   *Chain 3, (1 bullion, ch 1) 3 times all in next stitch, chain 3, slip stitch in next stitch, single crochet in each of next 2 stitches, repeat from * 4 times more (5 petals), join with a sl st to base of beg ch-3.  Fasten off.
Leaf
Note:  Leaf  is worked on both sides of the foundation chain.
Foundation: Ch 16,
First half of leaf, 5 trc in 5th ch from hook, 1 trc in each of the next 4 ch, 1 dc in each of the next 3 ch, 1 hdc in ea of the next 2 ch, 1 sc in next ch, 1 sl st in last ch, ch 3, sl st in the same ch (point of leaf), do not turn.
Second half of leaf,  working on other side of the foundation ch,  work 1 sl st in the first ch, 1 sc in next ch, 1 hdc in ea of the next 2 chs, 1 dc in ea of the next 3 chs, 1 trc in ea of the next 4 chs, 5 trc in last ch, ch 3, join with a sl st in same ch, end off.









Monday, February 12, 2018

Good Afternoon Everyone,

Teaching still is the best part of my job. I just love teaching both knitting and crochet classes and have been doing so for a lot of years.  The look on the faces of students when they "get it" is priceless.  I am grateful that I will have another opportunity to teach at the CGOA conference in Portland, OR this July. 

Nothing makes a teacher happier than having happy students. When one writes and shares some of the things that they make, that is even more rewarding.  Loren, who took my Entrelac Crochet class quite a few years ago, has gone on to such great lengths with this method. I have lost track of just how many blankets that she has made for her family and friends, but her latest creation just blew me away. Wow Loren, this is just beautiful and clearly made with love. I am so proud of you. Thanks for sharing.

Here's what Loren writes (makes my heart sing).

Hi Margaret 
Attached is a picture of my latest entrelac blanket.   This was SO MUCH FUN!  Each color was stitched individually.  Big job, but worth it. 
I can't thank you enough for all your help.
Fondly
Loren Miller 



Wednesday, January 10, 2018

Good morning everyone, 

Its been a really cold few weeks and everyone is trying to keep warm. I am reposting the instructions for the chemo cap that I did a while ago, because it has been a big hit with charity groups making caps. Have fun making this quick, easy hat.






RUFFLED CHEM0 CAP                                      MARGARET HUBERT © 2018
CROCHET HOOK SIZE 10.5
GAUGE: 12 DC = 4 Inches
YARN: 1 skein Berroco Inca Tweed, 3.5 oz/100 g or any #3 weight yarn to get gauge.
Starting at Crown: (Note: all sc and dc worked from back loop until ruffle)
Ruffle worked through whole stitch.
Foundation: Ch 4, join with a slip st to form a ring.
Rnd 1: 8 sc in ring, mark beginning of rounds, carry up marker after each round, do not join after each sc round.
Rnd 2:  2 sc in each sc around (16 sc). 
Rnd 3: *1 sc in first sc, 2 sc in next sc, rep from * around (24sc).
Rnd 4: * 1 sc in each of next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, rep from * around (32sc).
Rnd 5: * 1 sc in each of next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc, rep from * around (40 sc).
Rnd 6: * 1 sc in each of next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc, rep from * around (48 sc).
Rnd 7: 1 sc in each of next 5 sc, 2 sc in next sc, rep from * around (56 sc).
Rnd 8: 1 sc in each of next 6 sc, 2 sc in next sc, rep from * around (64 sc).
join with a sl st to first sc, this completes crown, start dc rounds for body of hat.
Rnd 1: Ch 3, 1 dc in each dc around, join with a sl st  to 3rd ch of beg ch 3 (64 dc).
Rnd 2: Ch 3 Cts as first dc, skip first dc, 1 dc in each dc around.
Rep Rnd 2 6 more times.
Ruffle: 
Rnd 1:Ch 3 (cts as dc), skip first dc, 2 dc in next dc, *1 dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc, rep from * around (96 dc), join with a sl st to 3rd ch of  beg ch 3.
Rnd 2: *1 sc in each of the next 3 dc, 2 sc in next dc rep from * around (120 sc), join with a sl st to first sc.
Rnd 3: Work 1 row reverse sc all around, fasten off.

Small Flower:

Chain 4, join with sl st to form circle
Ch 1, make 10 sc in circle, join with a sl st
*Ch 2, make 3 dc in next st, ch 2 slip st in next st, repeat from * 4 times more (5 petals ) join with a sl st, end off






FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016

Crochetville Blog Tour March 18, 2016

Good Morning Everyone,

Its been quite a while since I did a blog post. I was kind of busy, working on 4 books over the past year. As I write this, I am in the process of ordering yarn for my next book. When Amy, from Crochetville, asked me to participate in the Blog Tour honoring crochet, during the month of March, I said that I would love to.


The Four new books are CUSTOMIZE YOUR CROCHET, 10 SQUARES 30 BLANKETS, 10 SQUARES 30 BAGS, and CUSTOMIZE YOUR KNITTING.

I have lots of special things for you today, a free pattern and several great prizes. All you have to do is leave a comment, and leave your email address, so that I can get in touch with the winners. The winners will be chosen at random.


The free pattern is one that I usually sell, but today it will be free for anyone who wants it. I tried to make it so that you could download it, but could not figure it out, so you will have to copy and paste. In addition to the free pattern, there will be five books and one Free Form Crochet DVD for 6 different winners, and one grand prize, which all entries will be eligible for.







AND THE GRAND PRIZE


This is a sweater from CUSTOMIZE YOUR CROCHET, it is a medium size, chest measures 37/38, everyone who leaves a comment and their email address will be eligible to win.

The Free Pattern is:



Thanks for visiting today, enjoy the rest of the tour.

Margaret



TUESDAY, JULY 1, 2014

More Amazing

Good Morning Everyone,

First day of July, gorgeous blue skies, everything around me bursting with color, I love the Summer.


In keeping with my blog posts about all the amazing people in my world, I would like to introduce you to my friend Stephen Haggerty.  I met Steve through my Shakespeare Club, and when he told me that he wrote poetry, I was immediately intrigued.

Stephen has written his first book called COWS IN THE FOG, and I love it. I asked Steve if I could interview him for a blog post.  I told him that my blog was mostly for knitters and crocheters, but that did not bother him at all, he said that he would be “honored” how’s that for a real gentleman J


MH: When did you realize you had a gift for writing poetry?

SH: In general, I realized I had a gift for writing in grade school. My father was a musician editing Broadway Musicals at the time, and he encouraged me to write. In first grade, in fourth grade, I won the class contest.
In college, my writing professor for poetry and fiction had me stay after class and told me I had the ability to be a successful poet and fiction writer. She liked a poem I wrote about a character in Vermont. I wrote with a spirit of enthusiasm, and was creative in coming up with ideas.

MH: What was your schooling?

I graduated from Greenwich High School in Conn. I received my bachelor’s degree from Southern Vermont College in Communications with a minor in English Literature. I went to the University of South Carolina on a full scholarship to the College of Journalism. There I studied with William Price Fox, who was known to be one of the top fiction writing teachers in the U.S. (He taught with Kurt Vonnegut at the U. of Iowa Writer’s Workshop, known as the leading U.S. writing school.)

During college, I wrote articles for the Bennington Banner in Vermont.

For my first job, I was selected as one of 40 students for the American Society of Magazine Editor’s Internship Program in New York. Upon completion I was chosen as one of three American students by the Vice President of McGraw-Hill Publications as a trainee.

I worked at McGraw-Hill Publications as a reporter, writer and staff editor for magazines, and have also edited published inspirational magazine articles. I wrote and edited many pieces.

MH: What inspires your poems?

My poetry was inspired by the fact that I love to read poetry. On still evenings when snowflakes are falling, or on quiet evenings listening to the brook flowing and to crickets chirping, I like to enter into a poem and to be swept away by its feeling.

     For this book, I was inspired by my childhood summers in Vermont. We lived secluded summers working on family dairy farms six miles back on a dirt road working for people whose families had lived there since the 1700s. I spent many afternoons walking up mountains, strolling through meadows and streams. At night, we would walk in the dark down country dirt roads. Writing poetry takes me out into nature.

Writing poetry also gives me warm connections to people. I am sharing my life, and learning about other people. I enjoy reading my poems to groups to do this.  

Here is a photo of Steve reading some of his poems to our Shakespeare Club.



   Here Stephen is posing with his new book, and I added my great grandson's visiting flat Stanley into the photo. Steve was such a good sport and got a kick out of it.

Cows in the Fog will be available on amazon.com very soon.

Stay tuned, I know a lot of interesting, fascinating and truly amazing people.

Have a great day,

Margaret

   


Tuesday, October 24, 2017

My Needle Arts Journey

Good Morning Everyone,

 I put a kind of a "Throw Back Thursday" picture on Facebook yesterday, and it received quite a bit of attention. Several people have been asking me how I got started in this business and I remembered that I did this blog post a while ago, so instead of re-writing the whole thing, I updated it.




My son likes to say, “My mom is an overnight success after only 45 years in the business.” This is not far from the truth. My life in the fiber world has been an odyssey—a long, adventurous journey, woven throughout with beautiful textiles. The journey began when I was about 5 years old and my mother taught me to knit. My mother, who was born in Italy, also learned to knit as a very young child.
She told me that their knitting was done strictly for utilitarian purposes and she was knitting her own stockings when she was about 9 years old. The beautiful yarns of today and the fabulous garments that are made from these yarns, always surprised her. My mother and I made all the garments for my first book.

I have no memory of these early lessons, but my sister recently told me that I would sit for hours making doll clothes. As I grew older I learned to crochet, sew, and quilt. I loved it all. I learned to crochet at 19, when I really goofed up the front of a sweater that I was knitting. The local yarn shop owner told me not to rip it out, that she could help me fix it with some crochet. When I told her that I did not know how, she put a hook in my hand and said, "you will learn now".

While I initially learned all these crafts at a very young age, my successes in the world of knitting and crochet came much later, with helping hands from lots of people. People have always had to drag me kicking and screaming into each new adventure. Through the years I have owned a yarn shop, I was a needlework instructor for Bloomingdale’s, and a partner in a hand knit sweater business.

When my children were very young, I had a little knitting group that met in my house, just for fun. One night I mentioned that when my children were older, I would love to open a yarn shop.
The next day, my friend and neighbor called and said "why wait, why not open that shop now, I will partner with you and help".  I thought that she was a bit nutty, I had four small kids. When I told my Mom, she said "do it, I will help with the kids. Four months later Sit 'n Knit was born.
I was in the shop for 12 years, and they were fun, a great learning experience and lots of work, but unfortunately we were not making much money, and I now had college looming for 4 kids. I saw that Bloomingdale's was looking for a needlework instructor, so I left the shop and got the job at Bloomingdale's.

At Bloomingdale’s, a yarn representative from Brunswick Yarns, saw a sweater that I had designed. He was impressed by my work and gave me the name of  an executive at Brunswick Yarns and encouraged me to go see him.  I had never even been to NYC by myself, so my oldest son, who was 20 at the time, escorted me into the city. It was the seventies, and I was making crochet bikinis with cover ups. When I met with this gentlemen, he said "I like your work, but you are a little risqué for Brunswick", my son, who was sitting in an outer office, almost fell off his chair laughing when he heard this.   The exec, then picked up his phone and made several phone calls to the editors of McCalls, Ladies Home Journal, Woman's Day and Good Housekeeping, telling them that they should see my work. He made appointments for me with all of them, that very afternoon. We walked the city, from office to office, my son pep talking me the whole time.  The very first day that I met with all the editors, I sold 5 designs. I was elated, floating on cloud nine and could not believe it. That was the day that this incredible journey began.

I was at Bloomie's for 9 years, and while there I met Dorothy Gusick, we became very good friends. I had been designing and had already written two books by then. Dorothy convinced me that I should be doing other things, and suggested we go into business. She told everyone, once again, that she had to drag me kicking and screaming into business, soon after that, Mme DeFarge Handknits was born and we were very successful for quite some time and eventually sold the business. Dorothy and I wrote two books together. Dorothy retired, but like the energizer bunny, I keep on keeping on. Unfortunately Dorothy passed away a short time ago, and I miss her.

My work has been a great source of pleasure in my life and I feel very fortunate that I love what I do, and at my age, I can still do it. In 45 years in this business, I have had over 31 books published, countless designs in magazines, and contributions to many other publications. My first book called ONE PIECE KNITS, published in 1978, was a big hit, and I still get letters about that book to this day. My Most recent book is a newer, up to date book on one piece knitting. For the past 15 years I have worked with Quarto US, and editor Linda Neubauer, who is the best ever. Linda, along with my family, has helped me navigate the transition to doing everything digitally—years ago I did everything on a typewriter and had to mail all entries into editors, or take a trip into the New York City to have meetings in person. During this process, my brain was often overloaded, but I am getting better at it every day.

I think part of my success, in addition to having been blessed with helping hands and opportunities offered by so many people,  is the fact that I am very versatile in my designs. I have designed everything from doggie sweaters to men’s extra large - but my main focus has always been women’s fashions. I get genuine pleasure from the feel and texture of the lovely materials available to us today.  While most of my designs are classic, I do dabble in flights of fancy every so often, and my passion is free form crochet.

One of my favorite things to do is teaching workshops. About 20 years ago I was invited to speak at Professional Development Day at the Crochet Guild of America Conference in Chicago. This was a huge eye opener for me. I had no idea that these events even existed. Seeing so many avid crochet fans, gathered in one spot, taking classes, sharing stories, enjoying each other’s company, it was mind boggling. The following year I proposed classes to teach at several venues and another whole new world opened. Many students tell me that, while they love the idea of making a uniquely handmade garment that fits and flatters, either for themselves or as a gift, they find the process difficult. I love teaching them how to achieve this. One of my most popular workshops is “Customize your Knitting or Crocheting.” The response has been so great that I recently did two books on the subject. I get emails from students all the time telling me of the great satisfaction they feel when they can accomplish this. They always include pictures of their work, which brings me joy. My other most popular workshop is Free Form Knitting and Crochet. Students love this class and we have so much fun creating fabulous items. In the Free Form workshop, I give students some homework to complete before class, and something really unusual happens. Fifteen people, working from the same set of written instructions, come into class and every one of their pieces is totally different. I have actually been criticized for writing instructions for “Free Form”, but I feel by giving people a little jumpstart, their imagination takes over and amazing things begin to happen.

There is something very calming about working with your hands, and it has helped me immensely over the years. It is very therapeutic and can be a great stress reliever. Many tell me that their handwork helps them to cut down on various addictions. At the end of a busy day, what could be better than picking up some knitting needles or a crochet hook, some beautiful yarn, and creating something lovely. Crochet has saved my sanity more than once, through my husband's illness and losing him, through cancer, now through our new upside down world, my family is the best, my work keeps me together. AND I recently learned to ZOOM. 



All my books in one place

My very  First book 1978, I always hated this pic, when my Mom saw it she said "well at least you are on a book cover."






My Latest Book (40 years later)


Among my first designs, the ones that labeled me risqué

T


My first Free Form Jacket, combining knitting and crochet.

 Crochet Quilt done for Alchemy Yarns using almost all of their yarns in one project.


Autumn in New York Shawl inspired by my yard in October.

Made the cover of CROCHET! magazine They took a chance on a free form look.


My experiment Embellishing a mesh base, Using several different yarns, making a lighter weight free form garment.


Mme Defarge did a wonderful project with Fantacia Yarns


Right now I am still working on designs for magazines and I am currently working on several designs for CROCHET!, CROCHET WORLD, and SIMPLY CROCHET. 


I hope that you had fun taking my journey through the years.

Have a great day!

Margaret