Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Butterflies are Free

Good Morning Everyone,

My website is being renovated, and we have not been able to complete it as quickly as originally thought.  As a result, my free pattern page is not currently working.  Two of the most popular free patterns, the child's sweater and hat set, and the butterfly, can be obtained from me by writing to me at MHDesigner1@aol.com.  The little sweater set has been made many times for charity donations as it is fairly quick and easy to make, on large needles, and does not require a lot of yarn.  You can see a picture of it by clicking on picture number 2.  The Butterfly is picture number 3.

Have a great day

Margaret

Sunday, March 25, 2007

Welcome Spring!

Happy Spring Everyone,

Looking out the window this morning, I still see a lot of snow, still feels cold, and kind of grey.  The forecast is for some sunshine, where is it I ask myself, then out of the blue, comes the sun, and a robin.  Fat red breast, digging around in the snow, trying to reach the moist earth below.  I think of a line from a poem that I learned many years ago "You are welcome, Robin dear, for you tell us Spring is here".

I do that a lot lately, think of things from the past and my childhood. Some of my "friends" tell me that it is a sign of something that I don't want to hear about :-). 

Then I remember about all the things that I am so busy doing.  No time to worry about the passing of time.  I started my new book last week, I finished the proofreading of PLUS SIZE CROCHET, and I finished a sweater for review. 

I do take time out to play occasionally and I have a grand daughter and 5 great nieces, who all have American Girl dolls.  I have recently made outfits for all of them. 

Enjoy the day!

Margaret


Thursday, March 22, 2007

HOOKED THROWS CORRECTIONS

Hi Everyone,

I have just found out that there are two errors in the Hooked Throws book.  One of them we found very early on and has already been corrected in the reprints.  The second one, I received an e-mail from a reader just yesterday. 

Page 13: Spicy Stripes Throw, the hook size  shown is P/Q (15 mm), this should be size P/11.5 mm hook. 

Page 35: Double-Up Wrap, calls for the use of two yarns held together throughout.  One of the yarns was omitted in the yarn list.  The second yarn should be Trellis, by Lion Brand.

So far, these are the only two errors that we are aware of.  I guess errors are inevitable, but I was feeling really good since we had not found any before this. 

I plan to put up an errors page on my web site, but please feel free to write to me if you find any errors in any of the books.

Enjoy the day

Margaret

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Blog print problem solved/Starting a new book/etc

Happy Wednesday Everyone,

Joe (aol help person extraordinaire) was able to help me fix the print problem.  I hope that now all will be able to read the blog, without the print spreading out.  Thank you Joe. 

Monday I started receiving packages of yarn that I ordered to start my new book.  The feelings generated by receiving box after box of really wonderful yarn, soft alpacas, wools, and cottons in great colors, is an experience only knitters and crocheters can appreciate. 

As I opened each box, my mind's eye could "see" the finished item that I had planned for that yarn.  I could not wait to start. 

In addition to starting the book, I found out this week that four of my designs have been accepted for other publications. 

Sometimes I think that maybe I take on a bit much, but I love being busy, and I have friends who help make some of the garments. 

Getting started is the easy part.  Writing down everything that you do, and writing it in a language that others will understand, is the hard work.  Writing instructions that are clear and concise, and that tech editors will not cringe over, that is the challenge for every designer.

Before all this activity started, I did manage to finish the parts for two more felted bags.  Not quite done as yet, but I will post pictures when I finish.

Have a great day!

Margaret


Saturday, March 17, 2007

Happy St. Patrick's Day etc

Happy St. Patrick's Day,

Once again, New York has been dumped on and we have about 
12 inches of snow, and it is cold and windy this morning. 

I have a class planned for this morning, but do not know
yet if I will be able to get there.  We are waiting a little
while before we cancel.

I have started working on my new knitting book, and I have
had a few strange reactions.  Some people have said,
"Oh, I didn't know that you knit too".  I find this very interesting,
because years ago, I was primarily a knit designer.  About
5 years ago, an editor, who I met at a Chain Link Conference
in Chicago, saw me wearing one of my crocheted jackets.
She asked me if I could write down what I do.  When I said
that I could, she immediately asked me to submit a design
proposal for a possible book.  That conversation was the
beginning of the two Free Form books that I did for Annie's
Attic.  Since then, every one has been asking me for
crochet patterns.  When I made the proposal for the knit
book, and it was accepted, people seem surprised. 

I personally have always combined knitting and crochet,
 using both in many pieces. In my very first book, ONE PIECE
KNITS THAT FIT, I combined crocheted borders
on knitted sweaters.   Until recently, editors did not accept
designs for publication that combined both.  Their reason
being that some knitters did not crochet and vice versa. 

I have received notice that I will be teaching at the fall CGOA
conference in Oakland, CA, and one of the classes that I
will be teaching is called "Add Some Crochet to Your Knits" .

In addition to this class I will be doing Freeform Knitting
and Crochet, Adjusting Patterns to Fit, and Finishing
Your Crochet Like a Pro. 

I know that the Fall conference seems such a long time
away, and we are still planning the Summer one in NH,
but the time does go flying by, and these things are
planned way in advance. 

Enjoy the day.

Margaret



Thursday, March 15, 2007

This and That

Good Morning Everyone,

I am a very frustrated blogger this morning.  For some reason
 my blog printing has taken on a life of its own.

The print goes right off the page and in order to correct it,
 I have to shorten my lines, then it looks all weird on the page.
 I have asked Dee www.crochetwithdee.com for help, and she
 referred me to Joe (aol help person supreme) and neither one
 of them could help me out.

I apologize if you are having trouble reading the blog, I am
trying my best to correct it.

I received my copy of BIG-HOOK CROCHET, by House of
White Birches, yesterday.  It is a beautiful book with over 80
 projects in it (4 of which are mine). 

Since my visit to The Mall of America, visits to my web site and
orders for my videos/dvd's and books, have really spiked. 
Thank you all for such a great response. 

I signed contracts yesterday to start another new book.
 Its contents will have to remain confidential for now, but it will be
 knit and not crochet this time.

Have a great day

Margaret

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

More on Felting etc

Good Morning Everyone,

Every since I took a class from Nicky Epstein,
on making cut felted flowers, a door opened in
my brain, and I have been having a lot of fun with
felting.  I brought some of my bags to the guild
meeting on Sunday, and everyone enjoyed seeing
them and wanted to make some too.

I have been experimenting with knit and crochet,
both the bags and the embellishments and I have
lots more things ready for the felting process.  You
can see two of the bags by scrolling down a few
entries, and I will be posting more soon.
Nicky has written lots of books on flowers and felting
and other stuff, if you want to know more about Nicky,
and get a jolt of inspiration,  go to www.nickyepstein.com

I am just about finished proof reading my new book on
Plus Size Crochet, and it is being photographed right
now, so it won't be too long before it is on the stands.
 In fact, amazon.com is already taking advance orders.

My toddler book is out, and just last week I started
another new book.  I love being so busy.

Have a great day everyone!

Margaret

 

Monday, March 12, 2007

More on Happily Hooked on Crochet Meeting

 
Hi Everyone,
 
I asked Grace G, president of the Happily Hooked on Crochet Guild, to tell me a little about the piece that she was working on at the meeting on Sunday.
 
Grace wrote;
 
The filet is a pattern from Laura Ingalls Wilder  (Little House on the Prairie) that she designed.
 
Here is a web site about her...
The doily is going to be on display at the Bethel Library the month of April....the club is doing a "Crochet Display" ....we are featuring her because she crocheted, and her daughter lived in CT until her death....this will be just one piece of the display....

Grace,

Have a great evening.

Margaret
 

www.margarethubertoriginals.com
http://journals.aol.com/mhdesigner1/MyHooksandNeedles/

Sunday, March 11, 2007

Happily Hooked on Crochet

Hi Everyone,

I just returned home from a meeting of The Happily Hooked on Crochet Group, a chapter of CGOA, meeting in Danbury, CT.  I cannot believe that I have been a member of this great group for almost 5 years already.  Time sure does fly by when you are having fun.

Grace, our president was working on a lovely filet crochet piece, and another member, Mary Ann L, was almost finished with her great jacket. 

This is one happy, enthusiastic group, and everyone was busily working away all afternoon.  Hilda, showed us how to make a scarf using finger crochet.  Unfortunately, I did not think to take a picture of a finished one.  We all had our fingers occupied making the scarves.  I did not finish mine, as I did not like the yarn that I was using, I will try again later.

We had two visitors from the New York City Crochet Guild, Barbara Williams, their president, and Mary DuBois. A good time was had by all.

Have a good evening

Margaret

Thursday, March 8, 2007

Good News/Bad News/Casey Crocheting

Good Morning Everyone,

The Good News is that the Knit/Crochet Event put on by The Yarn Council of America, at The Mall of America in MN, was such a huge success that they are going to do it again next year.

The bad news is, that because of this, they are cancelling the New York City event this year.  It is just too much for them to put on two huge shows in one year, but they will be doing the NYC one again in 2008.  The Yarn Council also feels that it is beneficial in keeping the show fresh, to move it around a little. 

I attended the Mall of America event and it was a tremendous success.  I had a wonderful time and would recommend any one living in the area to try to attend next time.

On another note, a little friend of mine, only 10 years old, and a budding designer, with her own web page, has created a new crochet stitch.  You can see her tutorial on www.crochetingwithdee.com.  Of course having Dee as a mom has certainly inspired Casey, who by the way, is the youngest member of our Happily Hooked on Crochet chapter of CGOA.

Way to go Casey, I'm telling all other designers (myself included) to be prepared to step aside.  As Casey gets older, there will be no stopping her. 

Have a great day

Margaret

Monday, March 5, 2007

Ewephoric Weekend

Happy Monday Everyone,
 
I am running off to my Monday morning class, but had to tell you the news.  For Several Years, I have been teaching at the Ewephoric Weekend in Avon CT.  This year, Phyllis and Bob of The Wool Connection, who always ran the weekend, are retiring and the weekend was cancelled.
 
Well, I just found out that another shop is going to run the weekend.  Hooray for them.
 
The information is:
 
 
 
 
Date:  May 19th & 20th, 2007
 
Where:  Marji's Yarncrafts 
               381 Salmon Brook Street
               Granby, CT 06035
                860.653.9700
Note:  Marji's is just 15 minutes from where the Wool Connection was located.
 
Some of the Teachers:  Margaret Hubert, Lily Chin, Judy Pascale, Andrea Asars, Barbara Hillery
 
Anyone interested in attending, please e-mail Marji at MarjisYarnMail@sbcglobal.net to be put on Brochure Mailing list or check Marji's website http://www.marjisyarncrafts.com/ .
 
I hope to see some of you there.
 
Have a great day!
 
Margaret

Sunday, March 4, 2007

Its a small world

Good Morning Everyone,

We finally have a beautiful, sun shiny morning, not too warm yet, but at least the sun is out.
 
Every day I am surprised by a happening on the amazing thing that we call The Internet.  Yesterday, I went to a bridal shower in New Jersey.  I wore my jacket, pictured left, to the shower and I received lots of compliments. 

Shortly after arriving back home, I checked my e-mail, and was so surprised to have an e-mail from a friend. My friend told me that, on a fiber list that she subscribes to, someone mentioned going to a bridal shower that day, and meeting someone wearing a beautiful jacket.  The poster, then mentioned me by name, and my friend could not wait to tell me about it.  What fun! 

I love it!

Enjoy the day

Margaret