For today’s post in the May crochet inspiration series I want to encourage you to check out the many works of crochet art by the artists who are members of the Surface Design Association. Here are a few:

Womb by crochet artist Priscilla Nicolson

Crochet + Devore (Burn-Out) Art Necklace by Greek artist Kallia Chatzgianni

Protectors by crochet artist Mimi Graminski

Conversion by mixed media artist Alex Epps

Pods by student crochet artist Lauren Jordan

I hope this post inspires you to:

• Find out what the Surface Design Association is all about
• Explore more crochet art
• Share this work with others; you can start by sharing the images in this post on Pinterest or another social media site right now!
• Create your own crochet art; get creative with your crochet and have fun with it!

For today’s post in the May crochet inspiration series I thought I’d share with you the beaded crochet jewelry work of Hungary-based artist Varga Reka.

I hope this post inspires you to make your own crochet jewelry, learn bead crochet if it’s new to you, check out more of Varga’s work and explore other crochet jewelry artists like Miriam Freitas and Alessandra Stabili.

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that I was excited to see that in November 2013 there’s going to be a new Wizard of Oz crochet pattern book by Kristen Rask. Here are some of the other upcoming crochet books I’m eyeing on Amazon:

Granny Squares-All Shapes and Sizes. This book by Beatrice Simon and Barbara Wilder is subtitled “Over 50 Projects and Techniques to Give the Classic Crochet Pattern a Whole New Look”. The description adds, “These “granny squares” might actually be hexagons, triangles, pentagons, or circles and can be fashioned into everything from afghans and potholders to pillows and fingerless gloves using these innovative and colorful designs.” So it’s really motifs and variations on granny squares and they look like they may be fun. This crochet book comes out in February 2014.

There’s another beautiful-looking granny square book coming out too. It’s by Margaret Hubert and is called Granny Square Flowers: 50 Botanical Crochet Motifs and 15 Original Projects. It’ll be out in November 2013.

30 Minute Crochet by Carol Meldrum is being released in October 2013. It includes patterns for gloves, toys, mug cozies and more instant gratification projects.

The Creative Makers series is coming out with Simple Crochet by Sara Sinaguglia. Amazon says: “Taking her inspiration and palette from her country cottage home and the glorious Dorset landscape that surrounds it, Sara has created 35 easy-to-make crochet projects for everyday life.” This book is due out in October 2013 and the preview looks like it offers some cute stuff.

Another cute-looking crochet book due out in October 2013 is Crochet Love: 27 Sweet & Simple Zakka-Inspired Projects. Amazon says: “Simple, elegant, and accessible, Japanese zakka—“crafts for the home”—is a hot new trend. Jenny Doh brings this colorful and super-cute aesthetic to the world of crochet.”

Crochet Red. I’ve told you before about this book from the series Stitch Red, a Jimmy Beans Wool project to help raise heart health awareness through crafting. The book is due out January 2014.

 Mollie Makes is coming out with a crochet project book in August 2013.

Crochet Monkey Business looks adorable. There isn’t a lot of information on Amazon yet about this book that’s coming out in December 2013 but I’ve been made curious by the subtitle: “A Crochet Story with Amigurumi Projects”.

Amazon describes this new Brenda K.B. Anderson book: “Join author Brenda Anderson and her fascination with scary-cute creatures to crochet. In this collection Brenda presents 23 accessories and toys, featuring furry monsters, carnivorous plants, killer robots, and menacing tiki figures. While there are some literal monsters in the bunch–toys and amigurumi–discover a majority of projects that are wearable accessories and garments.” This one comes out in October 2013.

Finally I’m especially looking forward to Fashion Crochet: 30 Crochet Projects Inspired by the Runway by Claire Montgomerie of Inside Crochet. It comes out in September 2013.

This post is part of my May crochet inspiration series. I hope it inspires you to:

• Preorder those crochet books. All of those links will take you to the Amazon pages for the books. Disclosure: I use the Amazon affiliate program so I get a few pennies on those click-through purchases but it doesn’t cost you anything. Buying crochet books supports crochet designers and crochet authors. Do it!
• Start making a book list of crochet books that you don’t have but would like to check out. If you can’t afford to buy new books you can always get them from your library or sites like Paperback Swap.
• Let others know about the crochet books that you love. Spread the word. Support craft publishing!
• Share your favorite crochet book in the comments below!
• Crochet. Sometimes just seeing what new things are coming out makes me ready to pick up my hook and get at it myself.

Today’s crochet inspiration is to let you know that the Occupational Therapy Department of Elizabethtown College launched a new club this school year for students who want to knit/ crochet to help others in need.

Stitch2Serve Crochet Club

The Etownian (Elizabethtown’s College Paper) shared last semester:

Stitch2Serve, a group dedicated to creating knitted, crocheted, sewn and other handcrafted clothing for those less fortunate, has recently made its debut on campus. Their mission is to “serve the local and global community in meeting its tangible needs for comfort, clothing, and shelter, as well as its social-emotional needs,” junior and club president Laura Kleindienst said. “Additionally, club members will establish and strengthen relationships with each other and community members through learning and social activities involving textile arts.” The organization also focuses on fundraising for both the association itself and the community. 

Why The OT Department

“The inspiration behind this association came from occupational therapy majors who learn to knit and crochet during their first year of college as part of the department’s curriculum. After numerous students made efforts to create a club that utilizes their new skills while helping the community, occupational therapy lecturer Linda Leimbach finally initiated an official organization.”

I am thrilled to see that the college’s OT department has students learn to knit and crochet. It can be a terrific part of occupational therapy for people dealing with a variety of different situations, something I discuss in my book Crochet Saved My Life.

I Hope This Inspires You To:

• Learn about the occupational therapy benefits of crochet
• Crochet something for a good cause, possibly with a local craft group
• Find out if your local area college has a crochet club and considering donating some hooks or yarn

I’m continuing to work through my own personal transitions but I still have lots of crochet inspiration to share with you this month.

I’ve been so busy and had a million things going on but the truth is that I’ve really missed rounding up and sharing the crochet link love each week. I’m not sure how I’m going to fit this in on a regular basis again but it’s something I really like doing so here it is this week. Hope you find something inspiring here from around the crochet web this week.

Want to help support series like Link Love? Consider being a blog sponsor or making a small donation to keep the site going!

In Crochet Art

Mental Floss did a roundup of 10 Ambitious Yarnbombing Projects. They included some of my favorites but they also missed several I love!

Felt Ring with Crochet and Procelain Elements by Vallistic via @knithacker

Smart Crochet Words

@planetjune gave us some great info about crochet tension with chains and slip stitches for amigurumi

CrochetMe shared information on different types of crochet sweaters

@KristinOmdahl has some new crochet tutorial videos like this one for the Treble Cluster Crochet Stitch

Beautiful Crochet Makes

Julie Adore added cute crochet to shorts

Crochet Floral Appliques on Swimsuit via The Kipi Blog

Crochet Flower Headband via The Little Treasures

Mini Crochet Stool by Wood & Wool Stool, new in the shop filled with stuff for little ones

Crochet animal hats by Tawnya LaFave via Alessandra Selgi-Harrigan of Eagle & Times

Crochet Dolls made by @annemariesblog

New Crochet Patterns

How to Crochet Stuffed Stars via Little Woollie

@fiberflux shared the Berry Season Blanket Pattern

Crochet Faerie Ears by @crochetkitten

How to Crochet Picture Frames from @Ideas_magazine via @tangledhappy

Crochet Apple Pattern by Greedy for Colour

5 Vanna’s Glamour Crochet Wedding Patterns via @lionbrandyarn

Crochet Magic Wand Pattern via @CraftsideWorld

Crochet News

Michigan plans approved yarnbombing project via @mlive

Jim Bolin and the Yarn Studio are attempting to break a world record for the largest ever crochet hook that will crochet a 10′ x 10′ square

There’s a new Mollie Makes craft book that includes some crochet patterns

And a congrats to @sheepishknit for getting her first pattern published in Crochet Today

And Some Special Thanks

• Thanks to Crochet Today for continuing to feature my weekly guest posts including my recent Mother’s Day post.
• Thanks for the various links to my work from Lelahratterree, Ancora Crafts, String Geekery and Megan’s Creative Magic.
• Thanks to this month’s sponsors: Lo-Lo by Bar Maids, CourseCraft and My Recycled Bags.

Want to help support series like Link Love? Consider being a blog sponsor or making a small donation to keep the site going!

And he’ll tell you all about it  Just had to share this adorableness as some Friday fun on the blog.

I LOVE CROCHET from Jessica Judkins on Vimeo. Jessica has an Etsy store called My Charming Colors.

Continuing on with the May theme of crochet inspiration snippets I wanted to share this brief news story I learned about last fall and never remembered to share. I think it’s still inspiring!

La Maestra Clinic Microcredit Crochet Program

Guadalupe Acevedo creates a handbag from aluminum pop tops and thread at La Maestra Clinic in Vista.

UT San Diego shared:

“Under a free microcredit program organized by La Maestra Clinic in Vista and City Heights, women gather weekly to crochet, sew and make jewelry, purses and other items that they can sell personally or through boutiques. Participants bring their own raw materials, and teach skills to newcomers. Guest lecturers talk about topics like nutrition, diabetes, family issues and education.”

I Hope This Inspires You To

• Learn about Lidia Calzado, shown at the top of this post, who started a successful jewelry business using the information and financial support from the La Maestra program
• Support a microcredit program in your area or somewhere else around the world
• Consider lending your crochet experience to a local program to help teach women in need to learn to crochet
• Learn more about pop tab crochet and how it helps people around the world
• Appreciate your own access to crochet materials, whatever that may be

How does this story inspire you? Share in the comments below!

I’m continuing to work through my own personal transitions but I still have lots of crochet inspiration to share with you this month. I wanted to share the site Hearts, which works with 2000 artisans around the world to promote eco-friendly, sustainable products and support freedom and human rights around the world.

Here are some of the items on their site that are crocheted:

This post is part of May inspiration series. I hope it inspires you to:

• Check out what Hearts is all about
• Learn more about fair trade crochet
• Choose to make purchases from local makers and fair trade artisans
• Think about sustainability in your own crafting
• Crochet cute products inspired by the ones you see here!

How else can this post inspire you? I’d love to know!

A little while ago I did a guest post on the lovely blog James and Jax. In it I talk about why crochet is a great craft for embracing your creative side.

The post begins:

“I believe that everyone is creative. I think it’s in our nature. I think that doing creative things not only helps to improve our quality of life, but also actually offers hands-on healing for a variety of different ailments that we may encounter. Unfortunately I have seen all too many times that there are people who don’t think of themselves as creative and who therefore limit the potential for their own healing by shying away from creative activities. In my opinion, crochet is a craft that can help with this problem, because it is a creative act that almost anyone can do.”

Do you agree? Share your thoughts in the comments below.