Learn Tunisian Knit & Tunisian Purl Stitches – PLUS Reading Patterns & Tunisian Crochet Charts in this weeks lesson of BiCrafty Bootcamp: Triple Threat Tunisian Crochet Lesson 2. This 4 week course is expanding our Tunisian skills in all the best ways!
When I hired Cryssi and Kathryn, both of them mentioned they couldn’t knit. Being who I am, I insisted they learn! And Cryssi and Kathryn decided it would be great for all the other crocheters to join them in learning, and so, BiCrafty Bootcamp: Beginner Knitting Lessons for Crocheters was born. We had NO IDEA the amazing turnout we would have and how adamant our knitters would be for their own version! So, shortly after our knitting series ended, BiCrafty Bootcamp: Beginner Crochet Lessons for Knitters kicked off! But what about Tunisian Crochet, you say?
It’s OK – there’s MORE!
Now that there are more than 1,500 of you who have become bicrafty as a result of these bootcamps, we want to bring you the next notch in your belt – Tunisian crochet! It is no secret that Tunisian crochet has become quite the hot topic in recent years, and Robyn and I have been working over the last year to formulate a Tunisian Bootcamp for beginners that would be concise and challenging but not overwhelming to you. We have finally honed in the details on that and are excited to kick things off Wednesday, September 28, 2022! We will share all of the details LIVE on the Marly Bird YouTube channel at 1pm EST. Be sure to subscribe so you get notifications when I go live!
If you’ve joined the JOANN Stitch Alongs in the past years, you know that we always have a lot of fun with them. So get involved this time around in the 2022 JOANN Fall Stitch Along! There are knit and crochet versions of the patterns so everyone can participate. You know how much I love bicrafty options! And all my BiCrafty Bootcampers from the last 2 years can do BOTH! This year, we will be using Bernat yarns! Check out this video for some fun details and to see who is joining in on the fun this year!!
I’ll be doing the 2022 JOANN Fall Stitch Along knit version as usual this year. All my crocheters can turn to Mikey of the Crochet Crowd, Tiffany of Daisy Farm Crafts, and Tamara of Moogly for this year’s crochet patterns. Our focus for this year’s stitch along is home décor. I don’t know about you, but home has become so much more special to me since the last two years have required us to stay home more than ever. I had the amazing opportunity to create a home studio which has always been a dream of mine. And more than ever, families are spending time at home together and making it a place where everyone feels comfortable. Relaxation is so important!
Starting in 2019, I began working with JOANN on an annual bicrafty stitch-along. It’s a great opportunity for crocheters and knitters to work together on a fun project over the course of several weeks. You know how much I love make-alongs because of the way that they bring everyone together. And it’s so fun to see what unfolds as we make it from week to week, isn’t it?!
The 2022 JOANN Fall Stitch-Along will be no exception. Expect community, fun, and the excitement of creating something new!
You can join the dedicated stitch along facebook group and get extra help along the way as well as share progress with others who are doing the same projects! >> Join Here <<
And now it’s almost time for the fun to begin again! The 2022 JOANN Fall Stitch-Along launches on October 3, 2022. We’ll have posts, social media shares, and videos to support you through the whole thing. And this year, you’ll use either Bernat Blanket Extra Thick or Bernat Forever Fleece for the ultimate cozy, home décor Fall vibes!
There are just a few steps you need to take to get going with this free stitch-along:
Here are the supplies for each project!
We’re pulling together some of our favorite patterns from the Yarnspirations website each week. Use these patterns to inspire you to try new projects or yarn! This week I have a collection of 54 FREE knit bag patterns to urge you to pick up your needles and hooks. Browse them for your next project to put on your hooks or needles.
Knit bags are a great option to reuse bags as you shop. Not only are they great for shopping, but they’re also great for project bags and traveling!
Grab one of these FREE knit patterns from Yarnspirations and make your next favorite bag.
Bonus: don’t miss the free crochet bag patterns!
These knit tote bags are great for shopping at the farmer’s market, carrying books back to the library, or any time you need to carry things around!
Did You Know: Making crochet and knit bag patterns is a passion of mine. Here are some of my own designs that I’ve loved making!
These cute purses are just the bag for everyday use and special occasions!
These knit bags have a variety of functions, including a yoga bag and a doll’s backpack!
Here are some more wonderful blog posts for you to check out.
Rainbow babies are a special gift in this world. It’s always so special to make rainbow babies and their moms something beautiful to celebrate. Babies in general are something to celebrate. We can get so wrapped up in the excitement of new babies that sometimes we don’t see the loss around us. A rainbow baby is a baby that is born after a miscarriage. If you’re having your own rainbow baby or know someone else has their own, make one of these beautiful crochet rainbow baby blanket patterns to celebrate this amazing time.
Last week we told you Marly Bird blogger Kathryn Vercillo is also a long-time columnist at Happily Hooked digital magazine. As you know, four designers are participating together in the Classic Cable Collection CAL, launched last week. Over the years, Kathryn has done a crochet designer interview with each of us for the magazine. So, we wanted to share those with you.
Each week, the Classic Cable Collection CAL features a design from one of the four of us:
Hannah Crossed learned to crochet a little over a decade ago. Shortly after learning crochet, she launched HanJan Crochet, her crochet design brand. Her work has been featured in a range of different magazine including Mollie Makes, Simply Crochet and here at Happily Hooked. She’s here today to tell us a little more about her love of the craft. So here’s her crochet designer interview.
I learned to crochet in 2010 when I was recovering from knee surgery. I had many friends expecting babies at the time, so I made them each a crochet blanket as a gift. My Mum taught me how to make a granny square and from there on I just taught myself the rest!
My favorite crochet memory is seeing my best friend unwrap the blanket I designed for her first daughter Elsie. She knew just how much love I’d put into it and it’s still treasured to this day which means so much to me.
My Kaleidoscope Mandala Throw. I really wanted to challenge myself with constructing a blanket to make it work as a crochet spiral, and I happily loved how it turned out!
My crochet has definitely evolved with me over the years. Designwise, I am always trying to push myself with techniques and ideas but sometimes keeping it simple still works really well. There seems to be a magic formula of the right yarn, stitch and style and I love trying to find that perfect match every time I design something.
I go through phases of techniques that I love. I love working C2C, cables, post stitches and anything that adds texture.
Yep, that makes sense since she’s one of the designers in our crochet cable collection!
Regarding patterns, I always love creating blankets but have recently started designing more garments (for children and adults) and bags! I love making bags!
I get worried about getting stuck in a rut, so I make sure I’m always designing a wide variety of things to keep it varied and make sure there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
The design process for me is very organic – it might start with some new yarn or a shape or motif. I rarely sketch and only figure out the numbers once I’ve got the idea set in my head. I commit to things and rarely change anything once I get going. If I’ve got the idea set in my head and the numbers work out, then it normally just flies off the hook (not always, though!).
I’ve always wanted to try out Tunisian crochet, but I’ve just never gotten around to really learning it. Every year I say I will but I never do!
Crochet and having a crochet business have completely changed my life! Crocheting keeps me calm and grounded, and I love getting lost in the rhythm of a project for mindfulness and calm.
In terms of a crochet business, HanJan Crochet has grown beyond anything I could ever have imagined. It allows me to work around my young family. And it has given me so many wonderful friends and taken me to the most amazing places, too.
I started my HanJan Crochet business first, and I started my blog almost as soon as I started the business in 2012. I didn’t know what I was doing then, and the blog sort of got neglected over the years until I suddenly found my voice at the beginning of 2020.
At that time, I realized I’d acquired so much knowledge of patterns and crochet over the years that people seemed to enjoy reading! I decided to go for it and expand my content on the blog. I absolutely love it.
The experience has been more about learning how to undo everything I did wrong on it in the beginning! (I’m not that skilled at the technology side of things!) And learning what works as I go. Luckily, my subscribers hugely support me and know I’m doing my best!
I would love for people to find a bit of inspiration, a bit of education and most of all a sense of community from my blog. It’s so wonderful to have a platform to share my ideas and all things crochet and I love hearing back from everyone that reads and enjoys it.
I love that crochet is so adaptable; it can be big, bold, gentle, or delicate. It can be quick and easy or slow and complex. It can be anything you need it to be at the time, and I love that about it.
Sometimes I want to make my brain work really hard at a technique or pattern and sometimes I just want to work row after row without thinking or looking. Crochet can give you all of these things and more.
Be brave! Don’t let anyone tell you that you aren’t experienced enough for this or that. If you know the basics of pattern reading and stitch formation, you can achieve anything with enough perseverance! You don’t have to work with simple patterns forever, so have a go at something you really want to make!
I love knitting, baking, gardening, crafting with my children (generally messy things!), and mostly anything where I can be creative. I’ll have a go at pretty much anything!
Gosh, where do I start?! I’d love to keep growing my blog and sharing patterns for everyone to enjoy. I have some exciting plans and new collaborations with people I haven’t worked with before, so that’s exciting. I’m also planning to open up for guest designer submissions for the blog, which I never thought would be possible!
There are so many I admire! I love the work of Veronika from BlueStar Crochet, Nadia from the Moule Hole, Fran Morgan, Briana of Briana K Designs, Pam of Sincerely Pam, so many! I am lucky enough to call these fabulous people my friends too which is an honor.
I grew up and live in the UK with my husband, our two young sons, and our dog Ginny. I am also a Midwife working for the NHS and love that job.
Where can we find you online?
We hope you’ve enjoyed this crochet designer interview with HanJan Crochet. Look out for more crochet coming soon…
