Home » Blog Tour, Book Review, Giveaway » Colorful Crochet Lace by MaryJane Hall | Blog tour, Interview, Giveaway + More!

Colorful Crochet Lace by MaryJane Hall | Blog tour, Interview, Giveaway + More!

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I love Mondays! And it is a very special one because I am honoring MaryJane Hall on the release of her new Colorful Crochet Lace book! I cannot tell you how excited I am for MaryJane and how I am thrilled to be a part of this blog tour! I am posting an interview (see below) I did with MaryJane to feature her on this very special and emotional day for her, sharing my experience making the Juliette scarf, hosting giveaway and showing photos of the designs included in the book.

MaryJane Hall is a crochet designer and bestselling author of Positively Crochet! and Crochet That Fits, which was voted “Best Crochet Pattern Book of 2008” by Crochet Liberation Front. She is a mentor with the CGOA and speaks at various crochet gatherings and fashion shows. MaryJane has designed for popular magazines, including Interweave Crochet, Vogue Knitting Crochet, and Fifth Avenue Fashion Magazine and has appeared on the TV show Knit & Crochet Now.

 

Please let me introduce her new book:

Colorful Crochet Lace: 22 Chic Garments & Accessories

By MaryJane Hall

Interweave/F+W; $24.99

Format: Paperback

ISBN 13: 9781620336984

Number Of Pages: 160

Available at Amazon and Interweave stores.

 

This, very well and beautifully designed by Interweave book, includes 22 stunning and trendy lace garments and accessories presented in Ooh Là Là and chic Parisian theme. You will be pleasant to find fantastic designs for scarfs, tunics, tops, cardigans, shrugs, t-shirts and totes! The designs are worked in a variety of yarn weights and color range from elegant jewel tones to earthy neutrals. But sure these such versatile and trendy designs can be made in any colors by your choice!

With clear and detailed instructions and stitch diagrams, and gorgeous photography, Colorful Crochet Lace makes it easy and fun to create exquisite crochet fashions. Some projects are constructed using the Graduated Stitch Method, a technique MaryJane developed that allows for shaping and customized fit without increases or decreases, and many of the patterns include instructions for modifying designs and creating variations.

Below are some projects from the book, isn’t they are simple gorgeous!

Brigitte Wide Belt:

Colorful_Crochet_Lace_-_Brigitte_Wide_Belt_beauty_image_medium2

Dominique Dress Overlay:

Colorful_Crochet_Lace_-_Dominique_Dress_Overlay_beauty_image_medium2

To find all designs included in the book, please check this link.

 

And now, I would love you to meet MaryJane Hall, beyond talented crochet designer, dear friend and such amazing person:

MaryJane Hall

Your designs are beautiful, entrancing and unique. What inspires you?
I have always been the kind of person who wants to go the extra mile and work “outside the box”, but at the same time I really do want to produce wearable patterns that will appeal to a variety of people. When I’m working on a sketch I’m thinking  “Is this something I would wear” or better yet “Is this something my fashionista daughter would wear?” So I guess you could say I want to create patterns I think would be in demand and that’s what drives me!

When did you start crocheting and who taught you?
I taught myself to crochet from a book when I was 18 and I’m normally the kind of person who wants to be “shown” how to do things. This makes me know anyone who wants to learn to crochet can do it and they don’t need to be intimidated. I always say if they can learn how to hold the hook and yarn, they can make anything! And it’s really true.

How long have you been designing?  What got you interested in crochet?
I’ve been crocheting 40+ years and got interested back in the early 70’s when crochet was all the rage. Then when crochet came back on the scene in 2004 after a 30 year silence, I started designing.

How did you become interested in actual designing in crochet?
Since there was a huge surge in crochet that year, of course I jumped on the bandwagon and started designing because I knew several people who wanted to learn to crochet the stylish ponchos that were in the stores.  I couldn’t find updated patterns so I started designing ponchos to help the girls in my crochet class. The rest is history!

I love your style; where does your style come from?
I really like feminine styles – just anything girly, well kind of like your girly designs Alla! I think we are kindred spirits because I love everything you have ever designed! Love the lace, ruffles, fitted designs. And if I see a shape or style in a magazine or on the runway that I’m crazy about, I’m determined and motivated to see if I can come up with something in crochet. It’s a challenge for me and I love it!

What have you learned during your designing years? How did your style or techniques change?
I began designing small things such as hats, purses, slippers, belts, scarves and ponchos which we all pretty easy. I like quick projects and in fact would love to do a book on quick gifts someday. But when I started working on Positively Crochet with 50 patterns, I wanted to have more variety which is something I thought would sell. In other words, something for everyone, and that’s when I got into larger projects such as sweaters and skirts.
What have I learned? I’ve learned that sometimes the things you think will be the most simple to make, turn out to be the hardest and some I thought will be difficult to design, turned out to be much easier than I thought. I’m always pushing myself and there’s probably not anything I wouldn’t try to design. I’m pretty driven.

What tips and advice would you give to brand new crocheters?
1. I would tell them to be patient, don’t give up, and ask for help if you need to.
2. If you are working from a pattern that doesn’t make sense to you and you think there may be an error but can’t find any corrections on the web, then just do what looks right! If I had been given that advice way back when I started crocheting, I would have prevented a lot of stress over the years. I never even considered that patterns could have an error. I always thought it was just me!
3. Another bit of advice for beginners is when they want to make a pattern, I think it is best if they do not read ahead!  You might wonder why I would say that. There was a girl who wrote me saying there were errors in a pattern, but she also had questions on other parts she just didn’t understand. There did end up being a couple of minor errors (corrected on my blog), but we spent days writing back and forth while I was trying to explain some things she didn’t understand. I later found out she had read ahead in the pattern and even though she’d asked me those questions, when she actually started crocheting the top, she did understand it on her own. Then I told her I would not recommend reading ahead because even I, a very experienced crocheter, get confused on a pattern if I start reading ahead. It makes much more sense when you start working it, step by step.

When you are not crocheting, where can we find you? What are some of your other passions and interests?
You’d find me in the kitchen a lot! I love to cook and come up with new dishes. In fact I have a collection of over  300 cookbooks and I have just as many food boards on Pinterest as I have boards on crochet. I like to entertain and host dinners for family and friends.
You could also find me browsing thrift stores, flea markets and antique shops. I find lots of treasures at thrift stores and Dayton is known for having some of the best in the country.
And people would be surprised to know that I am addicted to the History channel. I love to watch shows like “America Unearthed” and shows about “Lost “Civilizations”.
I also play the guitar and sang professionally for many years at fairs, festivals and other events, but stopped when I started designing. I do have a CD of some of the songs in my repertoire.

Is there anything you wished I asked you and I didn’t? Please feel free to add anything!
I was born in Texas and lived in Oklahoma, the Philippines, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama and graduated from HS in Natchitoches, La, the town where the movie Steel Magnolias was filmed. My husband, whom I met in college was from Ohio, so that’s how I ended up here.
I’ve been to 8 other countries and across the Pacific Ocean twice but havent had a chance to go to Paris and Italy (where my ancestors are from). My love of anything Parisian is why I wanted to do the book in that theme with sidewalk cafes and gardens.

 

Thank you so much MaryJane for such interesting interview! Wow, over 300 cookbooks?! I am totally impressed!
… Oh and you made me blushing with your answer on one of interview questions ;o) Thank you so much MaryJane! I wish I would have a half of your talent!

 

Juliette Scarf

I love so many projects from Colorful Crochet Lace book, and will definitely make more of them, and  must to admit that I immediately fell in love with Juliette Scarf! Made with one of my favorite Silk Bamboo yarn by Patons, this pattern is very easy to follow and includes pretty detail stitch diagram (my favorite part!). To show you how versatile and differently this gorgeous design may looks, I made the scarf in royal blue color and “turned” it into a autumn theme. I am so glad with result and will keep it for myself for sure!

Colorful Crochet Lace - Juliette Scarf beauty image II

Colorful Crochet Lace - Juliette Scarf beauty image IV

Juliette Scarf900

 

And last, but not least… we have a GIVEAWAY for you! One lucky in the world will receive a copy of this gorgeous book (US readers will get a paperback copy, and international readers – a digital copy in PDF format)

TO ENTER:

Simply leave a comment on this blog post and let us know which is your favorite design.

TERMS

  • This giveaway starts today, August 10th and will end Monday, August 17 2015 at 11:59pm PST.
  • The winner will be selected with random.org’s random number generator and notified by email on Tuesday, August, 18th.

 

Here are the additional stops on this tour:

Colorful Crochet Lace Book Blog Tour Schedule

  1. Knit Crochet Craft – Vickie Howell (Mary Jane will be Vickie’s guest blogger that day, kicking off the tour 8/4)
  2. Outstanding Crochet – Natalia Kononova (review and promotional giveaway 8/5) +photos of her project
  3. Bonnie Bay – Bonnie Barker (review, interview, and promotional giveaway 8/6) She’s making a project
  4. Crochetville – Amy Shelton (she’ll show the Au Naturel Top she made, review, promotional giveaway 8/7) Amy made the Au Natural Cropped Top and will share her picturesj
  5. My Little City Girl – Alla Koval (she’ll show the Juliette Scarf she made , interview, and review 8/10). Alla made a project which she will share.
  6. Yarn Thing Podcast – Marly Bird (author interview podcast 8/13)
  7. Hook & Needle Designs – Lisa Gentry (8/14)
  8. GoCrochet – Ellen Gormley (review and author interview) (8/17)
  9. Turquoiz Blue – This is Crochet – Turquoiz Blue (8/18)
  10. Cute Crochet Chat – Jocelyn Sass (review and promotional giveaway 8/19)
  11. Hot Lava Crochet – Tammy Hildebrand (interview, review, and promotional giveaway 8/20)
  12. The Crochet Architect – Susan Lowman 8/21
  13. Crochet Renee – Renee Rogers 8/24

 

A wonderful and happy Monday everyone!!

45 Responses to Colorful Crochet Lace by MaryJane Hall | Blog tour, Interview, Giveaway + More!

  1. 1
    Susan Parker says:

    I’m enjoying the blog tour and reading about how Mary Jane started her design career. I’ve never done a blog tour before but it’s fun seeing and reading all the different blogs..

  2. 2
    Karla Cook says:

    I love the cover design!

  3. 3
    Aditi says:

    I just love tunique unique pullover. The name itself sounds so nice :)Awesome book and lovely patterns. Best wishes

  4. 4
    D. Byrne says:

    This book looks great! I see several patterns I’d like to try. Thanks for sharing!

  5. 5
    Gen says:

    What a lovely book!

    Gen

  6. 6
    Tamara says:

    Lovely designes, but green flared dress is my favourite.

  7. 7
    Iryna B. says:

    Beautiful designs and the book. I have 2 of previous Jane’s books. I lean toward Au Naturel Cropped Top and Café au Lait! I had to go to Ravelry to look up all the patterns in the new book. Thank you

  8. 8
    Vino says:

    Hi, awesome designs!!
    Oh oh la flared dress in green is my favourite
    Luv,vino

  9. 9
    Ansa says:

    Tunique Unique Pullover, the name say all. UNIQUE!!

  10. 10
    Nydia says:

    I love all the desings, but especially Au Naturel Cropped Top.

  11. 11
    MARIA says:

    NO FAVORITES, EVERY SINGLE ONE IT’S JUST SUPER LOVELY!

  12. 12
    Lessie Spindle says:

    Beauty on a book. Mu fav was Au Naturel Cropped Top. It was very hard to pick just one.

  13. 13
    Carmen N says:

    So many great patterns. My favorite is Au Naturel Cropped Top

  14. 14
    Judy orrego says:

    Gorgeous designs !!! Love the colors :)j

  15. 15
    Nancy says:

    The Tunique Unique, but all the designs are gorgeous. This is a must for my crochet library. Thanks for the Give Away!!

    Huggs, Nancy

  16. 16
    Jeannette Di Lorenzo says:

    I love lacy designs and this book looks like it has many beautiful projects. I especially like the purse!

  17. 17
    Sara says:

    I fell in love with the lines of theme tunique unique pullover, but I’m a sucker for pineapple s, so la fleur doily bag is begging to be made as well. Oh the choices! This is a lovely book with beautiful pictures and designs. I can’t wait to get my hooks into it!

  18. 18
    Darlene P. says:

    The patterns are lovely! And so many different projects to choose from. Of them all I think the Au Naturel Cropped Top is my favorite with the Ooh Là Là Flared Dress a close second!! Thank you so much for hosting this giveaway!

  19. 19
    Novi says:

    The designs very beautiful at all! I love the design in the cover, Ooh la la flared dress, and Le fleur doily bag :)

  20. 20

    Thank you for that chance and for this interesting interview :)
    I like the idea of a blog tour …I just went over to facebook to connect with you …everybody asks different questions and you also get to know more crochet designers that way than just the one that you are already following

    I already want to crochet 6 projects of this book …the belt, the chocolat skirt, the parisian gardens circular, the tunique unique pullover (absolutely), the boutique bolero without sleeves and the peplum top without sleeves …and as some of them are really lacy it will not be a problem to afford the yarn and take the time to do so :)

  21. 21
    RG says:

    Oh my what beautiful designs! Would love to make a all of them ….

  22. 22
    DeeDee Brown says:

    Beautiful designs.I especially love the Dominique dress overlay and the Au Naturel Cropped top. the designs are all lovely.Photography shows the designs well.

  23. 23

    I am drooling over all the designs but the Tunique Unique Pullover is really catching my eye today. I loved reading this blog entry and learning more about a legendary designer. Having the talent to create interesting designs is a gift and MaryJane is truly blessed.

  24. 24
    Katelyn M says:

    Thanks so much for the interview. I have been enjoying this blog tour. I am falling more in love with the book as I read each bloggers review and interview. I am really loving the Tunique Unique Pullover. I think that is what I would start working on first if I am lucky enough to win the book. Thanks again for the interview and the chance to win!

  25. 25
    Francie says:

    I like the Ooh Là Là Flared Dress. :) They are all nice designs though.

  26. 26
    Mira says:

    I am looking for this book and I love to see this giveaway announcement. I love all design in this book that’s why it’s one of my most wanted….and if I have one I’ll rush to make one of my ‘Ooh Là Là Flared Dress’ just for me

  27. 27
    Susan Broughton says:

    I like all of them! But if I have to pick I would say the Le Fleur Doily Bag. But that Juliette scarf is really pretty too

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