Sweet Cuddly Bunny

Ohhhhhh isn't this cuddly bunny so sweet?! She was a special order from a brand new Grandpa. I think she will look beautiful in her new home and be a loving companion to his granddaughter.

Having Fun With Product Photos

Last weekend I was finishing up the sample for a new hat pattern (the Nature Walk Beanie) and asked my son if he would model it for me.  Although he didn't know what "modeling" was, he said he would let me take pictures of him doing some "zombie killing moves" with it on.  Grateful for zombie protection and the chance to take some cute product photos, I agreed to his terms.  Check out some of these moves (I think he is going to be a professional break dancer some day):

Nature Walk Beanie - crochet pattern will be released in a few weeks!




Welcome to Twig & String!

Photo by Samantha Mackie
What is Twig & String? 
Where did NeoGrandma go?  
Let me start by saying that your friendly NeoGrandma is still here. I don't think I will ever lose that nickname (at least from my husband), however for various reasons I have decided to re-name my pattern store and thus, my blog.

So, as you can see from the header photo, I was inspired to re-name my shop after my very favorite crochet hook that my dear sweet hubby carved for me from olive wood.  Not the lightest wood there is and so not my most often used hook, but definitely my most treasured.  String, of coarse, is another one of my daily tools (although it's more common name is "yarn").
Photo by Samantha Mackie

As you will see, I've transferred all of my NeoGrandma blog posts to this blog because I feel that they give my endeavors in selling my craft a little back story and timeline.  I'm so excited for the future of Twig & String and I hope that you will enjoy what I have to offer here and of coarse, in my Etsy shop.

Talk soon,

Steph

P.S.  Click on the link to see Samantha Mackie's blog post from January 2012 with the awesome photos of hand carved crochet hooks.  I'm so in love.

Photo by Samantha Mackie

Snow Leopard Paws

Today I worked extra hard to test and finalize the sweet fingerless mitts that are pictured with the Eskimo Hooded Cowl.  They are so fluffy and cuddly I thought it would be fun to give them a cute name.  So, may I introduce to you the newest member of my pattern shop: Snow Leopard Paws.










Thank You All So Much!

I have had the wonderful opportunity to teach Tunisian crochet at my local yarn shop, Knit Together in Exeter, CA.  Sadly, today was my last day teaching at that location since the yarn shop will be closing soon.  Today I taught four lovely and talented women how to make the Tunisian Bias Sampler Shawl and it made me realize what I'm most passionate about in all my crafting...teaching others to love it too!  So, I want to put this out to anyone who is interested in learning how to crochet (Tunisian or otherwise)...I would LOVE to teach you!!!  Any pattern that I have available for sale in my pattern shop can be turned into a class.  If you are interested in learning how to Tunisian crochet please, please e-mail me!  If you have any questions on a pattern that you bought from me...please, please e-mail me!

Tunisian Bias Sampler Shawl - Tunisian Crochet Pattern

New Pattern - Icelandic Tunisian Cable Scarf

I'm so excited to introduce a brand new pattern to you....the Icelandic Cable Scarf.

For so long I've been disappointed with crochet "cables" (really it's just front post stitches pretending to be cables).  You can imagine my excitement when I found out that there actually is a way to gorgeous puffy stitches that look very similar to knitted cables with my crochet hook!  What's the secret?  My newly beloved, Tunisian Crochet.
If you are unfamiliar with Tunisian crochet I HIGHLY recommend you check it out.  It is SO much easier than it's fancy name leads on (especially if you are already a crocheter or knitter).  Hop on over to YouTube right now and type in Tunisian Crochet Simple Stitch to see what I'm talking about (hopefully someday I will be leading you to a NeoGrandma YouTube video...but don't let me hold you back). What'd you think?  So easy right?!  I used the Tunisian Simple Stitch throughout the scarf so that all of your concentration can be focused on working the cables (dropping several stitches, working a few more, then returning the dropped stitches back on the hook).  I hope you will agree that the result is far better than traditional crochet "cables"!






Trunk Show

CHANGE OF DATE!  THE TRUNK SHOW WILL NOW BE HELD ON TUESDAY, 12/4/12!

I'm having my very first trunk show this winter to sell some of my finished NeoGrandma goods.  I'm so excited I haven't been able to put down my crochet hook!  My focus is still on making new patterns (designing new things is what really excites me) and encouraging those who like my items to pick a pattern, grab a hook and try making it themselves; but it's nice to have non-crocheters want to sport some NeoGrandma as well.  Another exciting part about this trunk show is that NeoGrandma will be donating 20% of the proceeds to Jon Stemkoski's Celebrant Singers - an international music and missions ministry.

New Product Photos

On Monday morning just after dawn my best friend (model), sister-in-law (photographer), daughter (helper), and I packed up some of my cozy samples and headed out to the old Foundry to shoot some knock out photos for my upcoming crochet patterns (and some of my old ones too!).  I'm so blessed to have such amazing friends and family who are willing & excited (not to mention GORGEOUS & TALENTED!) to help me out with this!  We couldn't believe how many great backgrounds there were at the old Foundry.  It really looked as if we hit several spots in one day.  The weather was amazing...freezing and sunny - just right for modeling cozy accessories.  Here are a few of my favorite photos.  I'll post more as I publish the patterns.

Lace & Loops Neckwarmer

Autumn Leaves Cowl

Eskimo Kisses Hooded Cowl & Snow Leopard Paws

Teaching Tunisian Crochet

Learn How To Tunisian Crochet With Me!

Have you ever heard of Tunisian Crochet?  Some say it is a blend of crochet and knitting but I have to categorize it all on it's own.  Although you use a hook as in crochet, you keep your stitches on the hook as you work across the row.  You then finish the stitches by working back down the row to your starting point.  The result is a rather dense fabric (great for cozy winter garments) and SO many stitch designs and options.  I've been captured by this technique ever since I discovered it and now I have the opportunity to teach it to you!!  You will have the opportunity to learn 6 of my favorite Tunisian crochet stitches and used a large hook to create a medium weight triangle shawl.  The actual shawl pictured is at Knit Together in Exeter, CA so you can really get a feel for what you'll be learning and creating.  The details are below but you will need to hop in to Knit Together to register and pick up your yarn and hook before we begin.

Tunisian Crochet Class
March 17, 2012
Taught by Stephanie Sario
Cost: $40 (includes class, yarn, & Tunisian crochet hook)

Three for Two - March Discount

I couldn't be more thrilled with your response to the I Heart Patterns sale!  So thrilled in fact that I have decided to provide a new promotional discount every month!  Without further adieu, I bring you March's NeoGrandma discount...


Tomorrow I will unveil an exciting new opportunity for NeoGrandma & you along with...could it finally be?....a New Pattern! 
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