Cascade Yarns Blog

For the past couple of years, I’ve had the privilege of being one of several crochetdesigners for Cascade Yarns . I’ve had a good run with coming up designs that Cascade has chosen to add to their crochet pattern line, and in honor of National Crochet Month, they asked me to explain how I design a crochet pattern. Some designers start with a concept. They will draw out what they want to make, choose the measurements, choose the stitch pattern to use, and then they pick up the yarn and hook. Other designers, like myself, start with the yarn and hook and work from there. Personally, as a designer, I look for a stitch pattern that will work with the yarn, and once I have a stitch pattern fixed, I start to brainstorm on what finished item to make. The Cloud Wrap pattern all started with the yarn – El Cielo . I was originally given a sample of the yarn to make a crochet swatch for a completely different pattern idea, but I had enough yarn left that I decided to propose another i...

The Yokohama Mama Shawl to Crochet Designed by Doris Chan Published in Piecework May/June 2011 Crocheted in Venezia Worsted (70% Merino Wool/30% Silk - 218 yds/100 g) - 5 sks - shown in #150 - Blue Velvet This gorgeous crocheted shawl was inspired by a doily crocheted by Doris' mother before she was married that was saved from the attic (the only surviving piece from her trousseau ) .  Sixteen motifs are joined into an L-shape that wraps around the shoulders beautifully and make a wonderful tribute to her mother. Make sure to check out the back story to the shawl on Doris' blog  - it is really a lovely story for Mother's Day weekend!