Marly Bird's Yarn Pooling Made Easy Book Review and Giveaway!

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book from Leisure Arts to complete my review, but was not financially compensated in any way to write a favorable review. All opinions expressed in this post are my own.

I'm beyond thrilled and excited that I was able to be apart of Marly Bird's Blog Tour of her New book called Yarn Pooling Made Easy!  How could you pass on the opportunity to review a book that is full of "new craze" patterns that are very easy to follow, by none other than the spokeswoman for Red Heart Yarn, follow blogger, hosts the Yarn Thing Podcast, and has many publishings under her belt, the one and only: Marly Bird?!  Can't think of anyone? Ya, me either! 

 Guess what else???

You can WIN a copy of this book for yourself on my blog, one of the other bloggers apart of this tour, or through Marly's YouTube channel.  (I'll go into more detail about how to enter towards the end.)

What is Yarn Pooling?

Yarn Pooling, or also known as planned pooling or color pooling, is a technique used with variegated yarn to achieve different color variations to form a pattern, mainly an argyle one. This "craze" hit the crochet world a little over a year ago, and it definitely peaked my interest.  So being very green to the whole process, I researched just a tad on how to do it, and then set out to try to make something that would look argyle.  Now my first attempt was a Huge failure! I thought I was doing pretty good with my 2nd attempt, until the pattern went wonky and was no longer argyle (see photo on left below).  This was BEYOND frustrating to me, and I'm not one to give up on something, until I achieve the goal I was after!  So I was some what satisfied with my final product (see photo on right below), but I knew it still wasn't right.  I then pushed planned pooling in the back of my mind, until Marly made a mention of her new book she was releasing.

Yarn Pooling Made Easy Review:

After my previous failed attempts, I was so pleased to see how Marly broke it down in the book to achieve the perfect argyle look, Every time, with different variegated yarns!  She took the guess work out of how to create stunning visual items; and for that, I'm thankful.

I felt like a kid on Christmas morning when the mailman dropped off my copy of Yarn Pooling Made Easy!  In fact I was so excited, I ripped open that package while I was walking to pick up my oldest daughter from school.  

As I thumbed through the book, I was instantly drawn to the TWO baby item patterns in the book, since I'm in the final stretch of my pregnancy to welcoming our 4th bundle of joy!  Right off the bat, I decided I wanted to tackle either the Baby Cocoon on page 17 or the Car Seat Cover on page 13.

 

Aren't those the cutest designs ever?!

But after wrestling with my gauge and going up quite a few hook sizes then what is recommended in the book to achieve the correct size for the item, I decided to go with the Baby Cocoon on pg 17. 

I love that each design in the book provides the pattern's skill level, a finished item size, shopping list of materials needed, gauge information, stitch guide, the pattern, plenty of notes, and finishing/edging sections.  If you're curious to what colorways were used in the book, then simply turn to page 32 for  all the yarn information for all 10 patterns in the book. 

When shopping for some variegated yarn to complete my review, I fell in love with Red Heart's Wildflower.

But I was weary because this colorway wasn't used in the book.  So I figured, oh what the heck, and got it anyways for my project.  Thankfully, Marly goes over yarn pooling on her YouTube channel, as well as on her blog, since I needed it broken down for me.

I honestly don't know if it was pooling correctly while attempting to make the Baby Cocoon.  It just seemed kind of "off" to me. You can be the judge (see the photo below).  I ultimately think that my color pooling stitch counts were off, or my tension was way off somewhere.  Either way, I wasn't happy with how it was turning out.

So I frogged it all :-(  and decided to revisit the gauge section and try another pattern from the book. Honestly, planned pooling is all about the numbers in your color sequence.  You have to really pay attention to your sequence number, the hook size you use, what kind of yarn, and then write it all down.  Once I did that, I was able to successfully apply my numbers to the Full Scarf pattern on page 3 with the colorway Wildflower.

The pattern layout looks MUCH better!  Don't you think?  

Remember that yarn pooling has a learning curve, and it's OK to keep trying until you get it right!  I know for me personally, it was really tough to change my tension in the middle of a row in order to make my colors fall where they needed to - but that's how planned pooling works.

You're probably saying to yourself, all this info about your journey discovering yarn pooling is great, BUT how do I WIN my own copy of the book???

Giveaways:

Not Only do you have the chance to be entered to win a copy of the book on my blog, but you can also stop by any of the other blogs on the tour for a chance to win, or stop by Marly's YouTube channel to win. [Giveaway available to persons 18 years or older, living in the US.]

Enter for a chance to win here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you can't wait to get your copy of the book, then click HERE.

 BONUS - Red Heart Yarn is getting in on the fun too!

 Watch Marly's video ~ 1 lucky winner will receive a copy of the book PLUS all the yarn needed to make Every single pattern in the book!  That's pretty amazing!

Blog Tour:

Make sure you stop by the other lovely ladies apart of this blog tour for more chances to win, and to see what their journey was with yarn pooling!

Calleigh's Clips & Crochet Creations: September 5, 2017
ACCROchet: September 6, 2017
The Stitchin’ Mommy: September 7, 2017
Crochet Memories: September 8, 2017
Pattern Paradise: September 11, 2017
5 Little Monsters: September 12, 2017
Yarnutopia: September 13, 2017
Same DiNamics Crochet: September 14, 2017
Nicki’s Homemade Crafts: September 15, 2017
Looping With Love: September 18, 2017
Underground Crafter: September 19, 2017

*NOTE: Winners will be chose at the discretion of each blogger host, and by their rules. All winners will be notified within one week of the last tour date. All winners will need to respond to the host with their information by 9/25/17 or they will forfeit their prize. All books will be sent at the same time at the end of the tour, regardless of when the winner was chosen. Winner must have a US address.

I can't wait to see what you make! Please share with me on my Facebook :-)

Cyber Monday

Cyber Monday 2014!

I first must apologize that I neglected to make blog posts about my Black Friday and Small Business Saturday deals. But my neglect means BIG SAVINGS for you!!!  So for Cyber Monday, I decided to do a combination of sales, and having a big blow out on patterns And orders (crochet and/or clay)!!

So without further adue, 

Make sure if you're taking part of the BOGO sale for patterns in my Ravelry, that you enter the code: CYBERMONDAY14, Before checking out; otherwise customer will be charged the full price of the pattern. Buyer's failure to use the code prior to checkout will not result in a refund at seller's expense.Sale ends 11:59pm CST on Dec 1, 2014. 

I'd love to see what pattern you choose to make! So make sure you Add your Project on Ravelry, so I can see your beautiful work and add your project to the pattern page!

Happy Hooking :-)

National I LOVE Yarn Day!

Today is National I Love Yarn day!

To celebrate, I decided to make ALL my patterns in Ravelry 

50% OFF, ALL weekend long!

Just go to my Ravelry Shop, add the pattern(s) of your choice to your cart. Click on "use a coupon code," then 

Use code:

LOVEYARN

to get 50% OFF!

Sale ends 11:59pm CST on Oct 13, 2014. Customer is responsible for entering coupon code LOVEYARN before checking out, otherwise customer will be charged the full price of the pattern. Buyer's failure to use the code prior to checkout will not result in a refund at seller's expense.

I'd love to see what pattern you choose to make! So make sure you Add your Project on Ravelry, so I can see your beautiful work and add your project to the pattern page!

Happy Hooking!

Halloween is Upon us!

I don't know about you, but Halloween is my FAVORITE holiday!  It's probably because I originally come from Massachusetts, and up there they take the holiday very seriously.  Not until I was relocated after becoming an Army wife did I find out that there were places that had trick or treating curfews, and safe Halloween events. What?!  You're telling me I can only take my kid around during such and such a time on this designated day?  That drove me a tad insane. Cause you see, in MA, kids don't even Start trick or treating until it's dark, and if there's a front light on at 11pm, then you better still have candy to hand out to trick or treaters.  Almost everyone in MA goes all out for Halloween - decorations galore, spooky music blaring, fog machines turn on high, props set up on zip lines, driveway haunted houses - pretty much anything that can go "bump in the night" will most likely be betrayed on all hallow's eve. So it was a HUGE culture shock to be thrown into a military town in Texas where most parents take their kids to safe Halloween events at civic centers, or trick or treat during the hours of 6-8 pm, and only like 5 houses (if that) are handing out candy on every street. This is NOT my idea of Halloween!  I'm almost fairly certain that next year I want my daughters to experience what Halloween should truly be like, and we'll make the almost 2,000 mile trip to Grammie's house for that experience.

Anywho, back on topic!  So Halloween coming soon means I'm in the mood to punch out more Halloween-ish patterns!  This week alone I have released 2 monster hats, I'm adding photos to a Skull and Crossbones Applique, and a "build a monster" hat is in the works :-D  What better way to celebrate a New pattern release then give my fans a chance to win a FREE copy of my pattern?!  Well....how about 3 Free Copies of my new pattern!  [scroll down below for the rafflecopter to get your entries in ;-)]

Now here's a look at some amazing photos of my Big Eyed Monster Hat!

Didn't my testers do a Fabulous job?!

Here's your chance to WIN a FREE COPY of this pattern! Just simply click on the options in rafflecopter to get your entries in. 

Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Madly Mahvelous Scavenger Hunt

Are you ready for a Scavenger Hunt???

HUNT IS NOW CLOSED; THANKS FOR PLAYING!

Here's what you'll be playing for:

Here's how it works:

There are 8 questions below that are all worth different amounts of points. Each question pertains to a different topic, and can be found on various sites that Looping with Love can be found; such as on my blog, my Ravelry Shop, my Facebook Page, my Craftsy Shop, my Pinterest, and my fb group: Looping Crazy for a possible 35 points!  

Now some questions are easy to answer, others are giving you a task to complete, and there's a few that you'll need to do some investigating, but I hope you enjoy the hunt!  

Once the scavenger hunt is closed (7 pm CST, Fri Sept 5, 2014), I will look to see if there's a clear cut winner having the most correct answers, thus having the highest points earned. If by chance there is multiple entries with the same amount of points earned, then I will then use a random pick generator online to choose the winner.

Simply comment below with 1-8 (so I know which question you're answering, and how many points to award a correct answer) and then your answer.

So, Here We GO! Good Luck!!

1.) What is the full name of the pattern that is dedicated to my late father? (5 pts)  

2.) How many patterns are listed in my Ravelry shop? (4 pts)  

3.) What was the first crochet item I made my daughter that kick started Looping with Love? (5 pts)  

4.) Post a link of your favorite item I've made on my facebook page; whether it was a completed order, or an original pattern. (4 pts)  

5.) Repin one of Looping with Love's pins, and then post the link of your pin. (5 pts)  

6.) What # baby am I currently pregnant with? (3 pts)  

7.) Do I have the same number of patterns released in both my Ravelry and Craftsy shops? (5 pts)  

8.) Join my crochet facebook group and introduce yourself! (4 pts)

**IF YOU CANNOT COMMENT ON THIS POST, THEN PLEASE GO TO MY FACEBOOK PAGE TO COMMENT ON THE PINNED POST THERE! It's been brought to my attention that blogger has been giving some issues to some, so I made the hunt available on my facebook page: Looping with Love**

Again, comment below this blog post with your answers. The highest points collected by 1 participant Wins! You're not required to have a blogger account to comment below either.

THE WINNER OF 3 PATTERNS OF CHOICE FROM MY RAVELRY SHOP IS:

Rita Morrison  

Congratulations Rita!

Don't forget to make sure you enter the for the Grand Prize at: Here at the Mad Mad Makers blog!

Madly Mahvelous Scavenger Hunt & Giveaway

Have y'all been watching the AMAZING 23 vendor giveaway happening on Mad Mad Makers? If not, then don't worry - you still have time to be a part of some vendors' scavenger hunts, and the HUGE Grand Prize giveaway!  The photo below shows all of the Fantastic Mad Mad Makers that are taking part in this extravaganza!

Prizes include: wonderful crochet patterns, exquisite clay items, yummy smelling soaps and lotions, and amazing gift certificates!

So you may be wondering what do you have to do to win?  Well, each day until Sept 7th, there's a few ways to win! Vendors have their fans search on various pages (facebook, blogs, ravelry, craftsy, pinterest, etsy) for either a photo with the stamp below, or answer questions. The fans report back with their answers in the comment section for their entry on that vendor's page. Then the vendor selects a winner randomly through random.org, woobox, etc. when their time slot has closed.

Second way to win is entering for the GRAND PRIZE!  Now this is pure Madness, but would you expect anything but Madness from the Mad Mad Makers?!  So get this: ONE Person will Win 23 PRIZES!  Yup, 23 Marvelous prizes ALL will go to Only 1 person! Make sure you enter on rafflecopter for the Grand Prize of 23 gifts going to 1 Grand Prize Winner Here at the Mad Mad Makers blog! OR just scroll down to the bottom of this blog to enter for the Grand Prize on the Rafflecopter widget ;-)

Then be sure to check back in: 

Tomorrow Noon ~ 5 pm CST 

for my Scavenger hunt!

Scavenger Hunt Prize from Looping with Love

Hint: You'll have a chance to search for 8 answers on my blog, my Ravelry Shop, my Facebook Page, my Craftsy Shop, my Pinterest, and my fb group Looping Crazy! for a possible 35 points! The participant with the most points wins 3 Patterns of choice!

Grand Prize from Looping with Love

If you want to win $15 Shop Credit to Looping with Love (good towards any crochet or clay order) PLUS 22 other amazing Grand Prizes, then make sure you Enter the Rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

New Pattern Giveaway!

I'm releasing a new blanket, and thought my follow hookers would LOVE a chance at winning a free copy of the pattern before it's released!  So I will gift 3 lucky winners a free copy of my new Wild Fan Blanket to their Ravelry username :-)

Need a last minute baby shower gift? Or want to whip out a few Christmas presents over the weekend? Then this is the Perfect blanket for you!  This is an Advanced Beginner pattern, and works up super quick! The pattern is sized for a finished blanket approx. 24" x 34", but I include the beginning chain multiple if you'd like to make the blanket larger ;-)

For this pattern you'll need:

• Size K (6.50 mm) crochet hook, or hook size to obtain gauge
• Approx. 3.5 oz of WWY of color A
• Approx 3.5 oz of WWY of color B
• Tapestry Needle
• Scissors

Want to leave me a comment, but don't have a G+, LiveJournal, WordPress, AIM, or OpenID account(s)?? Then just click on the Name/URL or Anonymous options in the dropdown under the comment box ;-)

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS!

• Debbie McLeod
• Tonya White
• Kimberly Ingold

I have emailed the winners to the email address they provided to Rafflecopter, so please keep a lookout for an email from looping.with.love@gmail.com :-)  If you don't receive an email from me, then please email me your Ravelry username so I can gift you your free copy of the pattern Wild Fan Blanket.

Thank you to Everyone that participated in my giveaway!  

Because of the great turnout for this pattern release, I decided to have the pattern discounted this week!

Use coupon code: NEWBLANKET at checkout on Ravelry for a discounted price!

I'd LOVE to see your Wild Fan Blanket; so make sure to upload your finished project to Ravelry - then I can add your photos to the pattern listing :-)  Can't wait to see everyone's blankets!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Snappy Tots Giveaway!

Have y'all noticed the Amazing 2 week Extravaganza that Heidi from Snappy Tots has been running?? If you haven't, then you need to go check out her AMAZING Giveaway jammed backed with Incredible vendors!! I was lucky enough to be apart of her awesomeness as well ;-)  So make sure you go get your entries in ~ cause who doesn't like Free Stuff!?!  Oh, by the way: I'm giving away 1 pattern from my Ravelry shop shop to 3 winners :-)

Head on over to Snappy Tots' Happy Birthday Celebration Giveaway now!  Giveaway ends this Saturday, and winners will be announced to vendors on Monday :-)

Patriotic Wavy Wrap

Just in time for this Memorial Day weekend, a NEW pattern!  What could make it any better you ask? Well, I decided to Giveaway 3 FREE copies to fellow hookers ;-)

One of my testers happened to be weaving in some loose ends at the bus stop before sending her son off to school that day. After he Begged her to wear the headband, she decided there was only one solution: make it a Ninja headband! BRILLIANT! Right?  Since I haven't been blessed with a little boy -yet, this Never even crossed my mind!  Just the Wavy Headband can be something that appeals to boys as well as girls. Who would have thought?  I sure am lucky to have some AMAZING testers who think outside the box, and truly are a Great asset to helping me create some fantastic patterns! So this headpiece can be worn by either males or females by just changing where the band goes. A male can use it like a ninja, and wrap it around their head and across their forehead. While a girl can wear it like a traditional tie headband behind their hairline.

Besides thinking "out of the box," my testers take some AMAZING photos! Isn't this little cutie just adorable?!  A BIG THANKS to Donna from Articles of a Domestic Goddess for some Great photos!

Added bonus: this pattern includes 2 headband patterns, as well as 2 star appliques, and a loop flower pattern. This pattern is a 5 for 1 deal, with the possibility to create 18 different headbands due to color variations and choice in style of headband!

This pattern is Full of photo tutorials and a link to how to do a seamless join. With 10 photo tutorials throughout the pattern, it has a total of 33 photos that guide you and showcase each item.

So make sure to get your entries in on Rafflecopter for your chance to win a Free copy of this pattern!  I'll be running the giveaway until Sunday afternoon, so you'll have plenty of time to whip up a few of these for your Monday BBQs ;-)  You can earn 3 entries by simply commenting below this post about the pattern!  Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you can't wait to find out if you're a winner of a free copy, then take advantage of my sale code on Ravelry to receive $2 Off! At checkout simply type in: MEMORIALDAYPRIDE. Sale will end at May 27, 2014 at 23:59.

I would Love to see your finished headbands! If you’d be so kind, please add your item to the project section on Ravelry or Craftsy. If you love the pattern as much as I do, then please leave your comment about the pattern. Enjoy!

1,000 Facebook Fans Giveaway!

Looping with Love's 1,000 Fans Giveaway!

I'm so THRILLED that my facebook fan page has reached and exceeded a milestone already ~ having over 1,000 fans!  I would have never thought that when I picked up crochet again (my Grammie taught me a few stitches many moons ago) that it would have blossomed from small gifts to family and friends, and into a business that can be viewed globally.  So I think that deserves to be my FIRST BLOG :-)

Believe it or not, but this was the FIRST thing that I made after self teaching myself crochet. I wanted to make something handmade for my 2nd niece. Naturally, making a hat instantly came to mind.



As you can tell from the photo, my sizing was a tad off. But at that point in time, I had no idea what gauge was, or even how to find what my gauge was!  I was just so tickled pink that I was able to make a beautiful hat, with an attached star flower, for my niece.





Being a SAHM (stay at home mom) to a then 3 year old, and also being an Army wife at the time, I decided to keep on expanding my knowledge on crochet and see where it took me.  Plus it would be the one thing that would never change in the current Army life that I was living at the time.


Fast Forward to a PCS (permanent change of station) move to a state 1,800+ miles from "home", we became homeowners, added a new puppy to our already 3 human and 1 rescued pup family, and started settling into the Army way of life.  Life was new and exciting then.  Then our beautiful 3 year old, who was and still currently is enthralled in dinosaurs made a request - a request for me to make her a PINK TRICERATOPS HAT! Eek!

So I turned to my good friend Google to look up photos for inspiration.  To be frank, I had NO IDEA even if such a hat existed!  So after looking at images Google had to offer, I decided to "wing it" and embark on my First ever Animal hat sans published pattern. 
(Not until many years later, did I realize that a fellow crocheter, in a facebook group we're both members of, had already designed and published a triceratops hat very similar as the one I created. Sorry for pulling inspiration from your original work!)

So after sewing on pupils onto eyes, eyes onto a face, 3 horns onto a face, then the face onto a hat, my first animal hat was completed; and I had the happiest 3 year old in the world!

Then friends and family saw my creations and started asking, "Can you make ___?"  My answer always was, sure, I'll try.  After a few more custom orders for animal and character hats, Looping with Love was born :-)  As my skills and challenges grew harder, I added to my "completed orders" and "happy customer" albums on facebook.  After joining an Amazing crochet group (Hodge Podge Crochet), and getting the nudge and encouragement I needed, I started having my original patterns tested, and then releasing them to fellow crocheters to use.  

Here's some of my patterns available on Ravelry and Craftsy:

Available on Craftsy and Ravelry

Available for FREE on Craftsy and Ravelry

                                             

Will be available on Craftsy and Ravelry THIS WEEK! ;-)

So if you're still reading my short little back story to how my crochet business launched, sorry for the long intro to my fb link for the giveaway!  Once I started typing, the words just started flowing.

Thank you for reading my FIRST BLOG!  Be sure to check out my:

1,000 Fan Giveaway Album

Make sure to get ALL 26 entries in Here!

Hope you win an Amazing prize!  I have some Awesome vendors contributing to my giveaway :-)

Want to leave me a comment, but don't have a G+, LiveJournal, WordPress, AIM, or OpenID account(s)?? Then just click on the Name/URL or Anonymous options in the dropdown under the comment box ;-)