#jamesriverwrap

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Eep! I put my first piece of non-crochet or fiber related art up on Etsy today! I actually don't specifically plan to sell this one, so I figured it would be a good practice listing. That being said, if someone does want to buy it, I'll be delighted to send it on for someone else to love instead! But I had a couple pictures already and wanted to break the ice, so to speak, and it is, you know, relevant, I guess? to the #jamesriverwrap pattern release since the painting was inspired by the crocheting! It's part of the James River Collection! (that feels a little silly to stay but I like it anyway) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDhXEmhJnuD/?igshid=5tuq7yykvpxj

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That's a lot of #jamesriverwrap! 😂 Cheers to 2021! #topnine https://www.instagram.com/p/CJfVD8_pGns/?igshid=aaqgxpsxggdt

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Today's the last day to save 10% on the #jamesriverwrap for the pattern launch! You can use coupon code windingriver on either Etsy or Ravelry. And be sure to check my saved stories or click the hashtag to see some of my pattern testers' projects! https://www.instagram.com/p/CDri9nrpuJo/?igshid=smzop7rmarc4

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Have you grabbed your copy of the James River Wrap pattern yet? If not, be sure to use coupon code windingriver to save 10% on the pdf pattern download via Ravelry or Etsy! (Follow the links in my profile) ⁠ ⁠ #jamesriverwrap #crochetpattern #crochetwrap #crochetshawl #crochetcetera #createandgrowchallenge https://www.instagram.com/p/CDmcv0RJFq9/?igshid=1g2vp1kb12zba

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I first envisioned this project on the road to visit @centeroftheyarniverse and @danceswithwoolrva, the first two of my four stops on the inaugural @jamesriveryarncrawl. My other two stops on the crawl were @theflyingneedlesyarn and my own LYS at the time, @yarnmatters. Sometimes a design concept comes from the yarn but sometimes it comes all on its own, suddenly, like lightening striking in a moment of inspiration, and then I have to find the yarn to bring it to life! So at each shop I visited, I looked for locally dyed yarn in colors that reminded me of my own time on the rivers there in Virginia. The river in my pictures is (shhh) actually in Texas, where we moved just a week after the yarn crawl last year! I'm so pleased to finally be able to share the pattern with you. Thank you SO much to my tech editor @jamesbartley.co.uk as well all of my fabulous testers, including Donna, @keinaphels, @shabelcreations, and @sandhyakarandikar. You all ROCK!! The pattern is available on Ravelry as well as in my new Etsy shop and you can save 10% for the pattern launch with coupon code windingriver, now through August 16th at 11:59 CT. Enjoy!⁠ ⁠ Featured dyers: @littlefoxyarn, @kimdyesyarn, @robinspromise, @the.fiberists, @baad_mom_yarns, @urbangirlyarns, @temptingeweyarn, and @wise_owl_crafts ⁠ ⁠ #jamesriverwrap #jamesriveryarncrawl #littlefoxyarn #kimdyesyarn #robinspromiseyarn #thefiberists #baadmomyarns #urbangirlyarns #temptingeweyarns #wiseowlfiber #centeroftheyarniverse #danceswithwoolrva #theflyingneedles #yarnmatters #crochetpattern #createandgrowchallenge https://www.instagram.com/p/CDeo0SLJNyy/?igshid=kkuf81u7zwqw

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@williamsanastasia_ wants to know what my superhero origin story would be for the #createandgrowchallenge. How did I get here? Spinning my own (z-twist!) yarn and all! I have to tell you that one surprised me, ha ha. The stitch markers I've made, off and on, for a few years now, and they were a result of my jewelry making as a teen, which was the result of my grandmother teaching me how to make rosaries. Which reminds me that my creative bone lives deep not only inside me, but through the generations that came before me. My mother taught me to crochet. My grandmother taught me to make rosaries. My Granny helped me try my hand at woodworking (and Mom helped me build my workbench where I make shawl pins). My Dad took me stomping through the woods and made me sit still and listen (for deer and turkeys and even bears!) and Mom gave me names for the trees and flowers that we saw. My superhero origin story would be like that of the prodigal son, blind to the gifts and joys that I was so lucky to know as a child that I forgot for so long. My superhero story would be one of homecoming. I'm still searching to identify my super power, but I can feel it lingering closer! What's YOUR super power?? P.S. this is Greenscape from @thing4string in a superwash merino - my first full skein of chain ply! Doesn't it tie in beautifully with the #jamesriverwrap collection!? #connieleespins https://www.instagram.com/p/CDcUOYGJS_I/?igshid=o70597jeid2v

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The #jamesriverwrap releases tomorrow, y'all! Here's a look at some of the fabulous interpretations by my pattern testers. ❤️ Donna added beads to her river, making it twinkle in the light, just like the water can do in the sun! @keinaphels worked with more of a fall palette of yarns local to her and it looks like it has a lovely drape. @sandhyakarandikar also worked with a selection of local yarns, and added a fringe! And @shabelcreations featured fabulous red for a completely different take on the design. I love it! So many thanks to all of my testers for their valued feedback and wonderful photos. I really couldn't do this without them and I absolutely love seeing all the different ways one design can come to life in the hands of different makers!! 💙💚💛 Now. Who's gonna make this with ombre yarn? Or a long-sequence self striping yarn? 😍 Be sure you're signed up for my newsletter to get an exclusive discount code for 20% off for the launch (new subscribers also get a BOGO code they can use right away)! https://www.instagram.com/p/CDbmhaGpqZQ/?igshid=r3ben8n9a1bj

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Hello, August! And hello to all of the lovely new folks since my last intro post. In case you didn't know, I'm Connie and I'm a Fiber and Mixed Media Artist. Whoa, I said it out loud! Well, sort of. ;) I'm a crochet designer and teacher who doesn't get to do much teaching anymore and thanks to the pandemic and #the100DayProject I found myself on a journey back into art in other forms. And so you'll probably start seeing a lot more art here again! Did you know when I first opened my Instagram account, I was mostly sharing pictures of my nail art? I've had my Facebook page a little longer and it has always been almost exclusively crochet and fiber focused. But now that I'm painting again (having a baby put a stop to nail art pretty quickly!) I'm discovering that I can take a concept or a moment of inspiration, like the James River, and I can interpret it and reenvision it through a variety of mediums, which is making my inner artist clap her little hands in utter delight! So anyway, all that is mostly to just say hi and that I'm participating in the #createandgrowchallenge from @williamsanastasia_ and, of course, we begin with an intro post! So here I am, struggling with the wind during the #jamesriverwrap photo shoot - I ALWAYS struggle with the wind, it seems! But my darling husband is becoming more and more patient and productive every time I stick him behind the camera! If you feel like sharing, I'd love to hear a little about you, too! Is the weather miserably hot where you are, too? It's almost fall, though! What are you most looking forward to in the coming months? https://www.instagram.com/p/CDW6X1TJgAG/?igshid=1bt21n9nj74hz

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Did you know that the spiral shawl pin I wore during the #jamesriverwrap photo shoot is listed in my Etsy shop? It was just a prototype but I love it! You can find it at https://www.etsy.com/listing/835993213⁠ ⁠ I'm thinking about hammering out (literally) a few more for the shop update and pattern release next week. Maybe a couple in copper, too? What do you think? Let me know what you'd like to see!⁠ ⁠ #shawlpinsbyconnielee https://www.instagram.com/p/CDUoHk8JlLK/?igshid=1c460fr9wdvwa

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I did a quick little sketch painting last night reimagining my James River Wrap as the river that inspired it. It's twice reversed engineering? 😂 Should I go back in and refine it a bit or should I leave it scribbly and kind of abstract/impressionistic? I kind of like it just like this, crooked trees and all! 😆 #connieleepaints #jamesriverwrap https://www.instagram.com/p/CDRqC5rparR/?igshid=1pywb10xa4ti4

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Testing for the #jamesriverwrap just finished up and the pattern will be releasing next week! And since I love a good theme, I decided to make a couple sets of coordinating stitch markers. Ooh, maybe I should finish up that greenscape handspun and make it a whole collection! ;) These will be in my Etsy shop on the 4th and watch for tester photos for the wrap coming soon! https://www.instagram.com/p/CDPHCukJdMV/?igshid=11i4u3u4zc6ao

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The #jamesriverwrap is ready for pattern testers! You can find the test thread on Ravelry at https://www.ravelry.com/discuss/crochet-cetera-by-connie-lee/4035878 as well as on @yarnpond! Original design uses yarn from eight indie dyers purchased from four of the six participating shops during the inaugural @jamesriveryarncrawl, including @littlefoxyarn, @kimdyesyarn, @robinspromise, @the.fiberists, @baad_mom_yarns, @urbangirlyarns, @temptingeweyarn, and @wise_owl_crafts. Thank you @centeroftheyarniverse, @danceswithwoolrva, @theflyingneedlesyarn, and @yarnmatters - I hope to shop with you again sometime! #jamesriveryarncrawl #littlefoxyarn #kimdyesyarn #robinspromiseyarn #thefiberists #baadmomyarns #urbangirlyarns #temptingeweyarns #wiseowlfiber #centeroftheyarniverse #danceswithwoolrva #theflyingneedles #yarnmatters #crochetpattern #patterncomingsoon https://www.instagram.com/p/CAVuMa_pBKR/?igshid=1mjp20nldliad

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I'm still slowly working my way through this project using the leftover yarn from my #jamesriverwrap. This is the longest section of same color yarns because these were both some of the lesser used colors AND the skeins with the most yardage! It's looking to be more like a wrap than a scarf, ha ha, but that's okay. It's about the only thing I have the bandwidth to concentrate on right now, so I'm glad I have it to work on until I can get back to something a little more exciting! It's very meditative and comforting right now. https://www.instagram.com/p/B_irIutJzo_/?igshid=6exz1hhrt2gh

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Do you ever design or make something and then want to do it again right away in a completely different color just to see how it would look? For example, I'd love to do this in a pair of ombre cakes with sunset colors. Or with a whole bunch of minis for a fade. Or do a custom gradient handspun version! So, you know, if anyone happens to be looking for a project for something like this using one of those color concepts, I'd love to put you on the shortlist for testing this pattern! #jamesriverwrap https://www.instagram.com/p/B_NjZwGJ7Oe/?igshid=1wyr8y78je3tz

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I am slowly but surely will soon make my way through finishing up this pattern. I've got a video tutorial, a photo tutorial for joining on the second side with a standing sc dec, "exact" estimates of yardage used for each color plus an average to help with yarn substitutions, an inspiration background blurb, a symbol chart, links to each of the indie dyers (yay!) plus the @jamesriveryarncrawl, gauge, pictures, special stitches definitions, and modification ideas. Sometimes I think I try to cram too much information into my patterns but then as soon as I decide to skip something, someone asks a question that could have been answered with said skipped feature! What's your favorite pattern feature that you would love to see in every design? Yarn from @littlefoxyarn, @kimdyesyarn, @robinspromise, @the.fiberists, @baad_mom_yarns, @urbangirlyarns, @temptingeweyarn, and @wise_owl_crafts. #jamesriverwrap #jamesriveryarncrawl #littlefoxyarn #kimdyesyarn #robinspromiseyarn #thefiberists #baadmomyarns #urbangirlyarns #temptingeweyarns #wiseowlfiber #centeroftheyarniverse #danceswithwoolrva #theflyingneedles #yarnmatters #crochetpattern #patterncomingsoon https://www.instagram.com/p/B--Nhp6JpcQ/?igshid=14hdaxjuczw82

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I'm a little disappointed that I wasn't able to take piece this to the river that inspired it for its photo shoot, but perhaps some day it will get to visit Virginia! I can't hardly believe it's already been nearly a year since we moved. 😭 Thank you so much to all the wonderful indie dyers who make realizing design visions like this possible as well as to all the yarn shops who participated in the @jamesriveryarncrawl for being so welcoming and featuring so many amazing local (ish) dyers! I used yarn from @littlefoxyarn, @kimdyesyarn, @robinspromise, @the.fiberists, @baad_mom_yarns, @urbangirlyarns, @temptingeweyarn, and @wise_owl_crafts purchased from four of the six shops (I wasn't able to get out to the last two), including @centeroftheyarniverse, @danceswithwoolrva, @theflyingneedlesyarn, and @yarnmatters. ❤️ #jamesriverwrap #jamesriveryarncrawl #littlefoxyarn #kimdyesyarn #robinspromiseyarn #thefiberists #baadmomyarns #urbangirlyarns #temptingeweyarns #wiseowlfiber #centeroftheyarniverse #danceswithwoolrva #theflyingneedles #yarnmatters #crochetpattern #patterncomingsoon https://www.instagram.com/p/B-z7fjopfEu/?igshid=1fknl55z4l669