2017 NatCroMo Blog Tour, March 16: Andrea Lyn Van Benschoten

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A-Glamping We Will Go: 5th Annual National Crochet Month Blog Tour

Welcome to Crochetville’s fifth annual National Crochet Month (NatCroMo) blog tour, taking place each day of March 2017. Join us for a month of virtual glamping (aka glamorous camping), as we visit crochet designers, crochet-friendly local yarn stores, and yarn companies, as well as offer some fun giveaways.

Today’s Posts: Vashti Braha | Marty Miller | Andrea Lyn Van Benschoten | Daily Giveaway

Want to Chat about the Tour?

Part of the fun of glamping is the daily round-up around the campfire, chatting and stitching with friends. We hope you’ll join us in our NatCroMo Facebook group, where we’ll be sharing daily camping recipes, campfire songs about crochet, and so much more! We’d also love to hear about your favorite things you’ve discovered on the tour and see photos of your current crochet projects. You’re invited to join us daily for virtual cocktails/appetizers and dinner. (We’ll be sharing links to some fabulous recipes!)

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Andrea Lyn Van Benschoten, Fiber Arts by Andrea Lyn

Crochetville is very proud to have designer Andrea Lyn Van Benschoten with us today, March 16, as one of the featured designers on our 2017 Designer Blog Tour in honor of National Crochet Month (NatCroMo).

About Andrea Lyn:

I have been crocheting and spinning for close to two decades and just have a passion for it! I discovered many different fiber arts years ago and work to learn more all the time. I have been teaching crochet for quite some time and love sharing that “ah ha” moment with students. I am a Professional Member of the Crochet Guild of America. I live in Rockaway, New Jersey with my husband Glenn and my cockatiel Mendelssohn.

Over the years, I have written for several magazines, including Spin Off in the United States and Inside Crochet in England. Be sure to check out my blog, The Fiber Forum, to keep you up to date on the latest news in the world of crochet, felting, knitting and yarn spinning.

Do you crochet in public? If so, when and where?

I often crochet in public. Most often one of my local coffee shops. I also crochet from time to time while enjoying lunch at my local diner.

Do you have a special place at home where you crochet? Tell us about it.

I love sitting in my husband’s big comfy chair. He is open to sharing. 🙂

Share the story of your favorite thing you’ve ever crocheted or designed.

Many years ago I made my first free form piece for my goddaughter Alyssa Lyn. It was a crocheted jacket. She loved it and I was proud to give it to her!

Tell us about any other fiber-related hobbies you enjoy.

I enjoy spinning and felting as well. I especially love using the yarn I spun to crochet something special.

How do you decide what to name your patterns?

I try to name my most important projects for a special person or occasion.

Tell us about your most popular pattern.

My most popular pattern is Lisa’s Prayer Shawl. The idea of a prayer shawl is to create a garment with a repeatable pattern that doesn’t require a lot of focus. This way while crocheting, prayers, good thoughts and healing energy can be “fused” into the shawl to help the wearer heal–whatever the trouble may be!

Tell us about your favorite camping location.

My favorite camping spot is Butternut Grove Campsite on the bank of the Beaverkill River in Roscoe, NY. The perfect place for fly fishing! Roscoe is nearby to some of the best fly fishing in the country. In a short drive you can be fly fishing at the East Branch, West Branch, and the Main Stem of the Delaware River, as well as the Beaverkill River and the Willowemoc Creek. The Willowemoc is my favorite place to fish and the photo of my fishing is “on the Willow” when I caught a wild brown trout. It was a great catch!

What is your favorite camping tip?

My husband and I had a great little camper at Butternut Grove. We would fly fishing all day and then at night we would sit by the fire and I would crochet.

Visit Andrea Lyn’s Site: NatCroMo Specials

Book: Indispensable Stitch Collection for Crocheters by Melissa Leapman

My blog post will have a book review and giveaway of Melissa Leapman’s Indispensable Stitch Collection for Crocheters!

Andrea Lyn’s Designs:

If you’re not familiar with my work already, I’d like to share three of my designs with you.

1. Three Crochet Dishcloths, $5.00

These dish cloths only take one ball of cotton yarn each and work up quickly. The great textures will get those dishes clean and look great in your kitchen at the same time!” It’s a funny thing, but people who have used crocheted (or knitted) dishcloths generally want no others. For decades they have been both very effective and extremely eco-friendly (toss them in a hot washer when yucky, and they clean right back up). Here are three fine designs for them, which not only give you practical gifts, but can teach various crochet stitches to newbies.

2. Incredible Ribbon Belt/Scarf, $3.00

This simple belt is a great accessory for any outfit! Also, if you make it a little wider, it can be used as a fashion scarf! A versatile accessory that works up quickly… the perfect project!

This is an unusually skillful combination of yarn, stitch, application, and trend awareness. This belt alone can bring your outfit into up-to-the-minute style, just because of its openness and the yarn’s character– fashion is increasingly about texture combinations, and this one simple piece adds a lot.

3. Child’s Turtle Hat, $3.00

This adorable hat has just a little bit of whimsy and a whole lot of fun! Now, depending on your color choices, it could be turtles or ladybugs or any number of things – check with the recipient if you want. There’s lots here to amuse the crafter, since the ‘turtle’ shapes are appliqued on afterwards and the eyes sewn on. This is one of those great pieces that helps you pick out your child in a crowd – say at a mall or a fair. Just the thing for the young and playful.