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Haiku Winners!
The Grand Prize winner of the Haiku for Bamboo contest goes to Stephanie L. (Haiku #24)! She won an assortment of Crystal Palace Bamboo with a retail value of over $80. Here is her beautiful haiku:
Straight and strong it grows
Gives itself to my knitting
Generous bamboo
Congrats also go to Carol S. (Haiku #15) and Rita Y. (Haiku #13) for being the runners-up in the contest. We also awarded three prizes among the voters of the contest. All five winners received a pair of needles or a hook of their choice.
Thank you all who participated by either entering a haiku or voting. Click here to read all 25 finalist haikus, and be inspired by bamboo!
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Carol Alexander: Executive Editor of Crochet! Magazine
 Carol Alexander is the Executive Editor of Crochet! Magazine, a fashion-forward crochet resource for all levels of crocheters. Crystal Palace was fortunate to interview Carol and get her thoughts on the publication, designing and the growing crochet market.
CPY: Could you give me a little history of Crochet! Magazine? How long has it been in publication?
CA: Crochet! Magazine debuted in March 2002 and was created as a higher-end, more fashion-oriented crochet magazine to help keep our company on track with trending styles. We wanted a magazine that could be a showcase vehicle for the new, high-style fashion looks emerging on the crochet scene. Like most any magazine, Crochet! has gone through a few "growing pains." There have been three editors - yours truly for the past nine years --, several different page counts and various new looks. While some changes were more successful than others along the way, the invaluable insight gained from taking risks and staying focused on what is most important to us - our readers - has led us to the very successful magazine that Crochet! is today.
 CPY: Could you tell me a little bit about how you became involved with needle arts and with the magazine?
CA: I was a professional crochet designer for about 15 years from the late 1980s through early 2002. I was very blessed to be widely published by most major crochet publications at the time, including all of the Annie's brands. I also worked with yarn companies and provided designs for then-popular craft shows on leading cable network stations such as DIY and HGTV. So, when in 2002 DRG (parent company of Annie's) was in need of a new crochet editor, I was fortunate enough to be chosen! Having already worked with the company for many years on a freelance designer basis, I already felt like part of the family so it was a natural transition for me.
CPY: What do you look for when choosing designs?
CA: We look at many, many submissions for the magazine which must, of course, be greatly narrowed down to choose the limited number that can fit into an issue. So, a design submission must "grab" me with something that makes it stand out. It must be well thought out and executed and above all, be something that I feel confident our readers will identify with and enjoy making.
Read more...
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New Free KNIT Pattern
The Baby Blocks Beanie by Sandi Rosner is a darling little hat designed in Cotton Twirl. It takes less than one ball to make and is perfect for an advanced beginner. It features seed-stitch edging, knit-and-purl blocks, k2tog decreasing and I-cord top. It looks great in 2244 "Fandango", one of the new Spring 2013 colors of Cotton Twirl.
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New Free CROCHET Patterns
We have been working to expand our line of free crochet patterns. I could not wait to get my hands on the new 629 "Cherries Jubilee" color of Mochi Plus, and I thought these hat and glove patterns would fit the bill nicely.
The Everyday Hat is a basic hat that is comfortable, warm, stylish and perfect to dress up your everyday outfits. The hat is worked in a spiral in double crochet. The last few rounds at the hat edge are either done with a smaller hook or decreased slightly to avoid flaring out. It takes one ball to make.  The matching Everyday Fingerless Gloves are equally comfy and fairly easy to make. They are also worked in a spiral in double crochet on a single-crochet foundation. They only take one ball to make.
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Indie Knitting News:
Panda Silk on Cover of Creative Knitting Special Issue
Crystal Palace's beautiful Panda Silk is featured on the cover of Easy, Everyday Openwork & Lace, a special spring issue from Creative Knitting magazine. Panda Silk is an excellent choice for this elegant top. This beautiful lace-accented Selene sweater dazzles in color 3006 "Berry Smoothie". Look for the same color also featured in the Spring 2013 issue of Crochet! in the Half 'n Half Duster, and stay tuned to Facebook and Purls for upcoming details on the May Panda Silk yarn giveaway!
 But wait! That's not all! Also in this special issue is the Soft Drape sweater by Kennita Tully. This great cardigan is made from Mini Mochi in 313 "Ice Wine". It will dress up an outfit and keep the chill off. It is knit on a big, fat #15 needle, so it will go very quickly!
To order this special issue or to subscribe to the magazine, go to the magazine website.
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Indie Crochet News: Crochet! Magazine, Spring 2013
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