So I was just sitting around last weekend, putzing around online, and I decided to pop onto Ravelry to see if anyone had added any new projects with my crochet designs or anything and lo and behold I discover that the Twilight Fade Crochet Pillow (Cover) pattern had been added on the site! Huzzah!

I don't do many magazine submissions anymore, partly because so many print magazines have, sadly, shut down, but I do have a soft spot for Spin Off magazine because I love seeing some handspun specifically for crochet! So when the Associate Editor reached out to me about a potential crochet design for their color issue, I was instantly both excited and intrigued!

If you've been here with me for a while, you know I LOVE color play with my work and so this was the perfect challenge.

We went back and forth a bit with some different ideas, but finally decided on a neutral fade with a trio of undyed fibers from Northwest Yarns paired with long color change stripes in a scrumptious purple forward colorway called Blackberry from Kim Dyes Yarn.

I shared some of my progress as I worked through this project in black and white on Instagram, but I DID get permission to share it in color over on Patreon, so if you're a member with me there, maybe you remember me working on this??
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It WAS way back in September, though.

One thing that's really hard with magazine submissions is that you have all this energy and momentum in the creation phase, but you can't SHARE it and TALK about it because it's supposed to be a SECRET.

Right!?

Which can be fun, sure. Sometimes. But I know, for me, I lose that enthusiasm to talk about the project once it's finished.

I mean, I finished this deliciously squishy thing ... almost six months ago! I've moved on.

But I must admit that I STILL get all gooshy feeling when I see my name in print.

Not that I actually HAVE with this one yet. But it should be on newsstands (literally) now! If... there are actually newsstands left anywhere?? So maybe not literally. But maybe at your favorite LYS or craft store? I haven't checked anywhere yet because I don't have many of those where we live right now. Ben Franklin Crafts is it, and I don't even know if they carry any magazines, to be honest with you! Will have to check that out.

In the meantime, if you're like me and don't have someone nearby who carries print fiber arts magazines, you can order the fifth annual color issue of Spin Off online here!

Also, and I had NO idea she was even doing this, Kate Larson made a knit version of the pillow cover, inspired by my note about doing so in the modifications ideas section of the pattern, and it turned out so stinkin' cute!!

You can check THAT out here.

Also, for even more color inspiration, because we all know you can never get enough of that, here's a look at the test version I made while I was waiting for and spinning the fiber for the magazine version:

I used some DK weight yarn from my stash, so my stitch count was different to get a similar size, but this pattern is super easy to adapt because you don't need any specific stitch count. If you'd like to, you can check out my project page on Ravlery for more details.

And, clearly, it makes a great stashbuster project!! Since, I know, most of you probably are not spinners.

What I especially love about spinning, though, as a crocheter, is that I can create Z-twist yarn for my projects, which works WITH the (right-handed) crocheter as you work, NOT untwisting the yarn.

Most commercial yarns are S-twist, which is ideal for knitters, but that's actually a whole 'nother rant that I won't get into right now. 👀

Instead, just look at this scrumptious yarn I was able to make for this project!! 😍

Not to put down the natural fibers, but Kim is hands down one of my favorite indie dyers for fiber. And yarn, too! But I always love spinning with Kim's fibers. The colors are just so good. If you've never tried her yarn, you can visit her website here. Tell her I sent you!

All right, enough gushing. Go check out the magazine! It will probably be my only magazine publication this year because I don't have anything else currently in the works. For magazines, at least. ;)

Do you think you'll be making one of these?? I don't do home decor items very often, but I love the idea of being able to swap out decorative pillow covers seasonally, so I may do some more! Since I now have two of them, already.

What colors would YOU choose if you were to make one for your home or craft space?? Hit reply and let me know!

Chat again soon.

-Connie

P.S. I forgot to download my photos off the big camera that I took of Mabel and her chicks over the past week (we're out of town for a few days) so here are a couple pictures of my supervisor, Truman, inspecting my work for the magazine instead: