The 2006 issue of Interweave Crochet (http://www.interweavecrochet.com/toc.asp) is just out. I've spotted it at Get Knitted (http://www.getknitted.com/acatalog/Latest_Arrivals_.html) (scroll down the 'Latest Arrivals' page), but it should be available elsewhere too. I love the Babette Blanket (http://www.interweavecrochet.com/2006/materials.asp#babette); it reminds me a bit of Klimt artwork.

That looks interesting, is it an american magazine?

That looks interesting, is it an american magazine?
It is an an American magazine, but - like Interweave Knits - it's available over here, though you might have to order it through one of the online knitting shops. If you're interested in it, I'd suggest buying one soon, because it does tend to sell out quite quickly.

I don't know about you, but I find many of the American knitting and crochet magazines much better than the British ones - the patterns are often more along the lines of the things I'd like to knit, and the content is more informative. I buy Vogue Knitting and Interweave Knits regularly.

I've only really started crocheting fairly recently and I hear the americans use slightly different terminology to us. I'll have to find out how it differs, I haven't actually seen any of the interweave magazines but i may well get a copy - I'm feeling like I need some new inspiration at the moment.

I've only really started crocheting fairly recently and I hear the americans use slightly different terminology to us. I'll have to find out how it differs, I haven't actually seen any of the interweave magazines but i may well get a copy - I'm feeling like I need some new inspiration at the moment.
The different terminology got me at first. I only learned to crochet a few months ago. I saw a previous copy of 'Interweave Crochet' and it spurred me on to finally get around to learning. I taught myself using instructions from the net - instructions from an American site...

I didn't know there was a difference at first, until I bought a British book and wondered what I was doing wrong. It turned out that what we call double crochet, they call single and what we call treble crochet, they call double. There's a conversion chart here (http://www.yarn-shop.co.uk/yarn/charts.php) (scroll just over half way down the page). It's not too difficult to remember, as the difference is usually just the 'next stitch down'.

Thanks for posting this Hecate ... it's been years since I crocheted anything but christening shawls as the patterns available seemed a bit ... meh, but i'm going to have a go at the free "biker" set just to get my hand in again.

I wonder if we can get the wool over here? Any suggestions other than Atkinsons for wools? Thanks for the tip about the different stitches too. Will let you know how I get on .... :)

There's always Cole Brothers, the yarns are lovely but a bit pricey if you knit a lot. I like to keep an eye on ebay, there are several 'shops' selling new yarns but there's always people selling unused yarn. Sometimes it's just the odd ball but you can get enough to make a larger garment.

My daughter's getting quite a good knitter now so it's a good place to find bargains - and some quite random yarns!

I've only really started crocheting fairly recently and I hear the americans use slightly different terminology to us. I'll have to find out how it differs, I haven't actually seen any of the interweave magazines but i may well get a copy - I'm feeling like I need some new inspiration at the moment.
I've just dug out the instructions I used to teach myself to crochet. They're from The Crochet Guild of America (http://www.crochet.org/lessons/lesson.html). I wasn't aware at the time of the difference between the American and British naming of the stitches; I just thought that these were the most clear of the ones I'd looked at. It is just a question of terminology though. The techniques for doing the stitches are the same. At least, I haven't come across any differences apart from the names of the stitches. If any more experienced crocheter knows of any, then post it here.

The British book I refered to in the post above is Quick Crochet, Huge Hooks (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1845330218/qid=1144581432/sr=8-9/ref=pd_ka_9/202-8122971-9940627) by Sally Harding.

Thanks for posting this Hecate ... it's been years since I crocheted anything but christening shawls as the patterns available seemed a bit ... meh, but i'm going to have a go at the free "biker" set just to get my hand in again. ...
I know what you mean about crochet patterns. It's always seemed, to me anyway, that crochet was the poor cousin of knitting and as such, there was never the same variety of patterns available. Now knitting has really taken off, especially in the US, crochet seems to be coming along in leaps and bounds too.

Here are a few patterns which have really caught my eye, in addition to the lovely ones in 'Interweave Crochet'.

Salome (http://www.uniquekolours.com/Colinette%20Patterns/salome.jpg) from Colinette

Carnival (http://www.laughinghens.com/knitting-pattern-page.asp?patternpageid=2633)
Jaccuzi (http://www.laughinghens.com/knitting-pattern-page.asp?patternpageid=2625)
Both from RYC Classic Holiday (http://www.royalyarns.com/ptrn/RYC/RYC-BK03-2205/index.html)

I'm going to add a crochet section to the 'Recommended Links' sticky thread at the top of the page, so if you come across any interesting crochet-related sites, PM me or post them on here, and I'll add them to the list.
...I wonder if we can get the wool over here?...
Yes, that can be a problem. There are shops like Get Knitted (http://www.getknitted.com/acatalog/shop.html) and Stash (http://www.celticove.com/acatalog/Yarns.html), which are importing more yarns from the US, Canada and elsewhere, but it can still be difficult to get hold of some of the specified yarns.

I tend to substitute them for ones that I can get over here. In terms of knitting, I match up the specified tension and the fibre content of the yarn, and I usually end up with a good result. It can sometimes take a bit of trawling around though.
... Any suggestions other than Atkinsons for wools? Thanks for the tip about the different stitches too. Will let you know how I get on .... :)
There's a section of recommended knitting shops in the 'Recommended Links' sticky thread at the top of the page. I'm not in Sheffield, so I'm reliant on others sending me recommendations for shops in Sheffield and the surrounding area.

I tend to buy most of my yarn over the internet. My three favourites are Get Knitted (http://www.getknitted.com/acatalog/shop.html), McA Direct (http://www.mcadirect.com/shop/index.php) and Em's Stitches Online (http://www.ems-stitches.co.uk/shop/). Em's has free postage and McA postage is free over £5.

Thanks for taking the time to answer me in such detail ... I'm sure that the info will be useful to other people as well.

I can't knit *blush* i'm left handed and everyone who tried to teach me as a child was right handed ... i was all fingers and thumbs and they got fed up with it in the end! Jsut seemed all wrong somehow ... taught myself to crochet instead though.

I could knit a scarf or a kettle holder, of course, cast on and off, knit one purl one, knit a row, purl a row and I'm great at dropping stitches :hihi:

Crochet is great for little hats, shawls and baby clothes though and you can get most of the same effects as with knitting, just that it looks a bit 70s for actual clothes :D

Rubydazzler, I'm sure there's a book of knitting instructions out there specifically for left-handers. I'm positive I've seen it on Amazon. If not (and I'm seldom wrong ;) ), there are definately instructions for left-handers on the net. Not to be overly-evangelical about knitting of course... :D

The shops in the links section do yarns for crochet too. RYC is an offshoot of Rowan, and though they're mainly knitting, they do some lovely crochet patterns. And I like the 70s look, as long as there are minimal granny squares involved... :)

Oh, and check out Essential Crochet (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1844001652/ref=wl_it_dp/202-8122971-9940627?%5Fencoding=UTF8&coliid=I1Y4VRU6FRSDMJ&colid=1JW8UM5SXJQOU) by Erika Knight. I saw it in Borders the other week. It has some lovely non-clothes patterns.