NatCroMo 2016, March 10: Phyllis Serbes

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The Crochet Express National Crochet Month Blog Tour

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Welcome to Crochetville’s fourth annual National Crochet Month (NatCroMo) blog tour, taking place each day of March 2016. Join us as we take a virtual tour on our passenger steam train, The Crochet Express, visiting crochet designers, crochet-friendly local yarn stores, and yarn companies, and offer some fun giveaways.

Today’s Posts: Kathryn White | Phyllis Serbes | George Shaheen | Mosaic Yarn Studio | Daily Giveaway

Want to Chat about the Tour?

Part of the fun of taking a passenger steam train trip is talking with your fellow passengers. This year, we’re providing two locations where our passengers can get to know each other. We’d 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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Phyllis Serbes, Many Creative Gifts

Phyllis Serbes

Crochetville is very proud to have designer Phyllis Serbes with us today, March 10, as one of the featured designers on our 2016 Designer Blog Tour in honor of National Crochet Month (NatCroMo). If you’d like to know even more about Phyllis, check out our post from last year’s blog tour.

About Phyllis:

Hi, I’m Phyllis, and Many Creative Gifts is a company designed to provide products and services to help you to “be thoughtful” and true to your giving nature. I originally started MCG to showcase crocheted items, patterns, and custom designs, but I’m taking a more holistic approach to thoughtfulness and the fiber arts by offering ideas and recommendations on how to learn, make, and grow through crochet! Just go to my blog to see the latest happenings, including my ebook of “101 Crochet Tips” for Kindle. Oh, and I am also the Crochet Guru on www.crochet.lifetips.com. Come visit me!

1. Tell us about your favorite travel destination:

The beach, any beach! When I was a kid, we used to go to Miami Beach for the Christmas holidays and to Panama City Beach during the summer. Since moving to DC, I’ve gotten to go to Rehoboth Beach and Virginia Beach, both of which are wonderful. So I’ve always enjoyed being near water; maybe it’s the Pisces in me.

2. Tell us about a “dream” travel location that you’d like to visit one day:

Well, here I’ve gone on about the beach, but I’ve got Iceland on my bucket list. I remember many years ago reading a feature in the Washington Post magazine about the geothermal lagoons there and how you can just drive from lagoon to lagoon, hop in and out of the pools, then go to the next one! I really want to experience that, plus visit a high school friend whose mother is from Iceland and who’s ended up living there now.

3. Do you visit yarn stores when traveling? If so, tell us about one of your favorite finds.

Absolutely! It’s hard to pick just one because each LYS I’ve gotten to visit on a business or pleasure trip just has been so wonderful. I did enjoy visiting Carmel, California, because it is so different from the East Coast, and I got to stop by Knitting By The Sea (don’t let the name turn you off, they were very welcoming to this crocheter!). Great shop and community; and that ocean view just a few blocks away, ahhhhh!

4. Packing: Tell us about any crochet clothing or accessories you pack when traveling. Do you have any cool packing tips to share?

Well, the most useful crochet item I pack on almost every trip is a shawl I made years ago. It keeps me warm in the A/C or doubles as a scarf wrapped around my neck in the winter. As for packing tips, well, I just always remember the adage “pack half the clothes and twice the money!”

5. Tell us about any crochet projects you take with you when traveling: How many projects do you take? How do you decide which ones to take?

Actually, I usually just pack my hooks because I always search while at home for an LYS to visit as soon as I get to my destination. That way, I’ve got an excuse to pick up a locally made or dyed yarn, start a new project, and really unwind (see packing tip above!). If I don’t think I’m going to make it to a store, then usually I’ll pack one small project that I can work on during the flights to and from as well as while I’m there; unfortunately, I’ve discovered that I never get to crochet as much as I’d like to while traveling, but it’s nice to have something small with me just in case. It’s usually a baby item because it’s easy to pack and complete on the trip.

6. Do you have any stories or anything else travel-related that you’d like to share with our blog tour readers?

Savor every trip, take lots of photos, and visit those local yarn stores!

Visit Phyllis’s Site: NatCroMo Specials

Phyllis Serbes | Sunset Planner Portfolio

I have just released the pattern for the Sunset Planner Portfolio today. The pattern on Ravelry is 50% off and the kit on Etsy will be 20% off for the whole month of March. Come on over to my blog post for the coupon code!

Phyllis Serbes | Global Crochet

I am launching a companion site, Global Crochet, that explores crochet styles and techniques from around the world! New projects, patterns, designs, and more. Come on over to my blog post for all the details!

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Phyllis’s Designs:

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

Turkish Love Knot Bracelet | Phyllis Serbes

1. Turkish Love Knot Bracelet, $2.95

The Turkish flat bead crochet technique is one I learned while researching Turkish crochet. I wanted to make a bracelet that would be fun and easy to make but still look like real jewelry! This technique and my bracelets were featured in Inside Crochet and Love of Crochet magazines.

Clownie the Crocheted Clown Doll | Phyllis Serbes

2. Clownie the Crocheted Clown Doll, $4.95

Our most popular pattern — an updated version of a vintage crocheted clown doll. The pattern has plenty of pictures and step-by-step instructions. Brings back memories, a fun crochet project, and great for gift-giving!

Scalloped Baby Hat | Phyllis Serbes

3. Scalloped Baby Hat, $4.95

Whip up this modern baby hat with a vintage look for that special girl baby in your life! Plenty of photos and instructions to make this adorable scalloped crochet baby hat for the next shower you attend.