Crochet Classes for March and April 2013.

Click on the title to see details.

Open Project Crochet Class

Wednesdays 6.30-8pm , March 6, 20, April 3, 17.
822 Executive Dr, Princeton NJ 08540 (Office of Maks Financial Services).

Registration required  (please contact instructor by email anastasia@crochetnj.com).

6 sessions. Thursdays 7-8.30pm, March 14, 21, 28, April 4, 11, 18 (April 25, Make up Class)
822 Executive Dr, Princeton NJ 08540 (Office of Maks Financial Services).

Payment is required to reserve your spot.

Crochet for Advanced Beginners

4 sessions. Saturdays 10-11.30am, March 23, April 6, 13, 20.
Wool Bearers 90 High Street, Mt. Holly, NJ 08060
609-914-0003

Registration is required, call the store.

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If you took a crochet class with me ANYWHERE before, you will receive a very special goody when you register for any of the classes listed below! This is my way to say thank you for supporting me .

Crochet classes at the Executive Drive

822 Executive Dr., Princeton, NJ

OPEN PROJECT CLASSES

We meet every other Wednesday night, March 28, April 11, 25, May 16. Please let me know that you are coming by emailing me at anastasia@crochetnj.com so that I can prepare to accommodate you better and bring any necessary materials.
Starting in April, classes will run 6.30-8pm.

Bring a project of your choice to work on. Do you need help starting a new project, finishing a WIP (work in progress),  or some fresh ideas for something new to work on?

A new twist to Open Project classes: to celebrate Spring and Summer seasons, part of each class will be devoted to learning to crocheting flowers. With a new flower each week, soon you can collect your very own bouquet . Additionally, during each class, students will have the opportunity to learn new fancy stitch. You are welcome to join in on the learning or to work on your own project.

INTRO TO CROCHET
for the first time ever taught by Hannah and Anastasia
Sundays, May 6 and 20; 11.30 am-1.30 pm.

Let us introduce you to the wonderful world of crocheting! Crochet is as hot as it’s ever been!!!
This class is designed for complete beginners. You will learn most of the basic stitches. We will talk about gauge, what hook goes with which yarn, how to read information on a ball band. This is a crash course, to fully benefit from this class students are encouraged to practice at home.
To bring: nothings, all materials will be provided.

CROCHET CABLES

Sundays, May 6 and 20; 2-4 pm.
Cables are not just for knitters anymore. In this class you will learn several different way to make crochet cables. We will also make fingerless mitts with cables to practice your newly acquired skills.
To bring: worsted weight yarn and crochet hook to match.
Requirements: know how to chain, single crochet, double crochet, and how to read written instructions.  Knowledge of post stitches (FPdc, BPdc) is preferred.

Registration closed.

CROCHET FAIR ISLE
Sundays, May 6 and 20; 9 – 11 am.

Contrarily to popular belief fair isle is not just for knitting. The same look can easily be achieved with crochet. Come take this class and learn how two simple stitches create two different textures and looks.
To bring: worsted weight yarn in 3-4 coordinating and crochet hook to match.
Requirements: know how to chain, single crochet

Registration closed.
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Woolbearers

90 High Street
Mt. Holly, NJ  08060
609-914-0003
www.woolbearers.com

CROCHET SOCKS with Anastasia Popova
Learn to crochet these toe-up socks with a cable and an afterthought heel done on a fine gauge yarn.
Saturday, April 14; 10 am – 1 pm
Cost: $35

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West Windsor Art Center

952 Alexander Road
Princeton Junction, NJ 08550

Register here 

BEGINNING CROCHET  - Complete Beginner Guide to Crochet
AD-2232 (15-Adult)
Thursdays | 7:30-9:30 pm | April 19-May 24 (6 weeks)
Registration fee: $100 | Materials will be provided for the first class

In this beginner class, students will learn everything they need to know to start crocheting. No prior experience is required. Students will learn how to hold the hook, chain, 4 main stitches, importance of gauge, what hook goes with what yarn, and how to read information on a yarn ball band and crochet patterns. Students will be proficient at making all the main stitches. They will learn how to increase, decrease, crochet flat and in the round and change colors. To practice and reinforce the technique, students will make a variety of simple yet fabulous project: a gift card cozy, a hat, a scarf and others.

CROCHET FOR ADVANCED BEGINNERS
AD-2233 (15-Adult)
Mondays | 7:45-9:15 pm | April 16-May 21 (6 weeks)
Registration fee: $100
Requirements: Basic crochet skills (know how to chin, single and double crochet).
Materials: Smooth worsted weight yarn, crochet hook to match, stitch markers, scissors.

Students will work on a series of small crochet projects to take their skills to the next level. Projects include cowls, fingerless mitts, mittens, hats, and flowers. All projects will include various new stitches, combinations of stitches, and new techniques while reinforcing pattern and diagram reading skills. A perfect continuation to the beginning crochet class or a great class to advance your skills.

BEGINNING CROCHET  for KIDS
YH-2210 (ages 8-12)
Mondays | 6:30pm-7:30pm | April 16-June 11 (8 weeks) No class May 28
Registration Fee $100 | Materials $10

Learning to crochet is a significant milestone in child’s lives. It helps children to express their individuality, builds character, enhances self-esteem and confidence, improves their attention span, and prepares them for other tasks that they may face down the road. In this class, boys and girls will learn to master crocheting while working on a series of simple and cool projects: bracelets, little creatures, cases for cell phones or other devices, and fingerless mitts.

DESIGN & CROCHET ACCESSORIES for Teens
TA-2222 (ages 13-17)
Thursdays | 6:30-7:30 | April 19-June 7 (8 weeks)
Registration Fee: $95 | Materials provided for first class

Crocheting is a perfect way to get exactly what you want to wear. It’s also a fun way to relax or hang out with friends and a perfect way to discover the creative “you”. This class will teach you the basics of crocheting and together we will create something small, manageable and fabulous. A few examples of possible projects include hats, skinny scarves, fingerless mitts, leg warmers, and shrugs. Not only will you leave with a finished project, but you’ll have the motivation and the tools to keep crocheting! Learn how to understand and follow pattern instructions, master main crochet stitches, and how to select the perfect yarn for the perfect project

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At 822 Executive Dr, Princeton NJ, registration at anastasiapopova.com:
Intro to Crochet
Sundays, February 26 and March 4, 9.30-11.30pm, $52 (register online by February 19 for $44).
Let me introduce you to the wonderful world of crocheting! This class is designed for complete beginners. You will learn most of the basic stitches: how to chain, single crochet, double crochet. How to work flat and in the round. We will talk about gauge, what hook goes with what yarn, how to read information on a ball band. This a crush course, to fully benefit from this class students are encouraged to practice at home.

Demystifying Crochet Charts and Diagrams
Sunday, March 4, noon- 2.30pm, $35 (register online by February 26 for $28).
In the past few years crochet charts became very popular and for a good reason. It is a lot easier to read and follow crochet diagrams and charts then written crochet. Knowledge of symbols will allow you to make any crochet pattern , even in foreign language, like Japanese or Russian, because crochet symbols are the same (or very similar) in any language. You will practice your new skills by making a small project from a symbol crochet chart in the class.
To bring: worsted weight yarn, crochet hook to match, pencil, notebook.
Requirements: know how to make chain, single crochet, double crochet.

Open Project nights Wednesdays 7-8.30pm at executive dr
January 18, February 1, 15, 29, March 7, 21
Please let me know that you are coming by email to anastasia@crochetnj.com

Crochet doctor is still in by appointment!
And private classes are also available

I wanted to remind everyone to join at my new gig at the West Windsor art center: Classes start this Thursday and Next Monday, act fast!

http://www.westwindsorartscenter.org/class-registration.html

For Kids
BEGINNING CROCHET
Mondays | 6:30pm-7:30pm | January 23-March 19 (8 weeks, No class 2/20; Snow date 3/26)
Registration Fee $100 | Materials $10
Learning to crochet is a significant milestone in child’s lives. It helps children to express their individuality, builds character, enhances self-esteem and confidence, improves their attention span, and prepares them for other tasks that they may face down the road. In this class, boys and girls will learn to master crocheting while working on a series of simple and cool projects: bracelets, little creatures, cases for cell phones or other devices, and fingerless mitts.

For Teens
DESIGN & CROCHET ACCESSORIES
Thursdays | 6:30-7:30 | January 19-March 8 (8 weeks; Snow date 3/15)
Registration Fee: $95 | Materials provided for first class
Crocheting is a perfect way to get exactly what you want to wear. It’s also a fun way to relax or hang out with friends and a perfect way to discover the creative “you”. This class will teach you the basics of crocheting and together we will create something small, manageable and fabulous. A few examples of possible projects include hats, skinny scarves, fingerless mitts, leg warmers, and shrugs. Not only will you leave with a finished project, but you’ll have the motivation and the tools to keep crocheting! Learn how to understand and follow pattern instructions, master main crochet stitches, and how to select the perfect yarn for the perfect project.

For adults
BEGINNING CROCHET – Complete Guide to Beginning Crochet
Thursdays | 7:30-9:00 pm | January 19-February 23 (6 weeks; Snow date 3/1)
Registration fee: $100 | Materials list will be provided
In this beginner class, students will learn everything they need to know to start crocheting. No prior experience is required. Students will learn how to hold the hook, chain, 4 main stitches, importance of gauge, what hook goes with what yarn, and how to read information on a yarn ball band and crochet patterns. Students will be proficient at making all the main stitches. They will learn how to increase, decrease, crochet flat and in the round and change colors. To practice and reinforce the technique, students will make a variety of simple yet fabulous project: a gift card cozy, a hat, a scarf and others.

CROCHET FOR ADVANCED BEGINNERS
Mondays | 7:45-9:15 pm | January 23-March 5 (6 weeks; no class 2/20; Snow date 3/12)
Registration fee: $100 | Materials list will be provided
Students will work on a series of small crochet projects to take their skills to the next level. Projects include cowls, fingerless mitts, mittens, hats, and flowers. All projects will include various new stitches, combinations of stitches, and new techniques while reinforcing pattern and diagram reading skills. A perfect continuation to the beginning crochet class or a great class to advance your skills. Requirements: Basic crochet skills (know how to chin, single and double crochet). Materials: Smooth worsted weight yarn, crochet hook to match, stitch markers, scissors.

I am also teaching at the Woolly Lamb, check http://www.thewoollylamb.net/schedule for more details.

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I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Maksim and I sure did.  We went to visit my “sister” (my best friends) and my god daughter.

Our day started bright an early and we drove for 6 hours to NH.  The drive was very much fun, a bit of traffic, but mostly fun, because we discover Netflix on the phone.  I was going between passing out and watching Grey’s Anatomy.

My part of the menu included white chocolate cranberry cookies, creamed spinach and butternut squash soup. We also had traditional Thanksgiving dishes like turkey, mashed potatoes, homemade cranberry souse, grilled veggies, not so traditional cocktail shrimp, and very traditional to Russian table crab salad and smoked fish.  Everything was very yummy!!!

For me thanksgiving is less about traditional pilgrim-indian theme, and more about been with people I love and to remember tyhe things I am thankful for.  I am thankful for people in my life. I am thankful for my wonderful husband.  I am thankful for my sister and her amazing family, for her always been there for me.  I am thankful for my parents, for their support and love.  I am thankful for my heath. I am thankful for been part of the crochet design community.  I am following for my students, for my fans and my followers.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.  What are you thankful for?

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2.  The evening was filled with last minute preparations: finishing up a pair of mittens for Arianna, worrying that the hats I made her won’t fit, weaving in ends, double checking that cookies are packed, arguing how much clothes to bring for 2 days, and how early to leave.

3.  We have different definitions of bright an early.  For me it’s early and not necessary bright yet.

4.  We have a 6 hour drive ahead of us tomorrow.  Well 6 hours do not include Thanksgiving traffic.  So we will see.

The post Random appeared first on Anastasia Popova.

I baked tonight.  I baked cookies tonight.

This is my first recipe post.

I found this recipe last year and made a batch (may be two).

I got to tell you it’s absolutely amazing!  I am not big fan of sweets (chocolate does not count, I love chocolate!!) so if I say something is good, you got to believe me.

As recipe states, the secret of those cookies is that part of the white chocolate chips is melted into the dough.  I both melt chocolate chips and soften butter in the microwave.  Let me finish.  I did my googling, I know that butter should not be liquidy otherwise cookies, or any other baked stuff (yes, it’s a technical baking term) won’t come out right.  I am a chemist for the sake of all that’s fuzzy, butter should remain in the state of suspension to absorb molecules of sugar.

If butter is softened and not melted cookies don’t spread as much while baking so they stay softer and gooeyer inside.  Yes, we all about gooey cookies around here.

Back to the microwave, I only set power to 500 watt, it only takes one minute for butter and two minutes for chocolate chips.

The only thing I do differently from the recipe is that I use half regular sugar and half brown sugar (light brown sugar).  To make them even more gooey.  Told ya.

I also doubled the recipe.  For the most part cookies are meant for Thanksgiving dinner (would probably have to put them in the trunk so we don’t eat them all while driving for 6 hours to NH), and I also wanted to take some for work.  Let’s see how long it will take for cookies to disappear.

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Here we go again.

Monday night.

Driving from an awesome class.  Thinking that’s what I will blog about today.  Two awesome classes: Sunday’s crochet sock class at the Woolly Lamb (my first time teaching there, yeah!!), Monday’s continuation of  beginning crochet at the West Windsor Art Center (amazing group).

Getting home.  Feedign the cat.  Putting Grey’s Anatomy on (my new obsession, rewatching from the begginning).  Picking out an awesome crochet hat (Blueberry Trellis Hat sample for the Woolly Lamb – I wanna teach a class on it, are you in??).  Promtly forgetting about bloging.

Finishing the hat with my eyes closed.  Passing out.  Not a thought about blogging.

Waking up in the middle of the night.

2 am

Me: “Hon, gimme you laptop, I have to blog” (yes, he always have at least one laptop on the bedroom and I know that).

Maksim: (you know what he wants to say, at 2 am, but he is very supportive that way, he understands the importance of blogging): Hah???  Here…

Sigh

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2.  I know that you will do anything for me, and I will do the same for you.

3.  You make me laugh, cry, and drive me crazy, and make me fall in love with you again and again, just in a matter of few moments.

4.  I worry that you work to much, and you assure me that it’s not work if you enjoy it.

5.  You are not perfect, but you are perfect for me.  I am thankful for all of your annoying little things that makes you you as I realize it’s the only way you could be.

6.  Next year you will be turning very old, this year you are still young.  And, yes, I will be rubbing it in your face, because I am just a year younger. That’s my way of dealing with it.

7.  You are the love of my life, I love you, happy birthday!

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For the past few years for Birthdays and New Years Michelle been getting all sort of lessons and classes from her favorite aunt and ankle, Maksim and I (in case you wondering).  Getting to most classes is also a part of the gift.  First year it was drawing lessons, then the was a series of swimming lessons.  Now “she is taking a break from swimming until spring”.  Michelle’s birthday was October 16 and to my surprise she very quickly decided that this year she would like ice skating lessons.

The surprise comes from the fact that for the past two years we (her mom and I) been begging Michelle to take ice skating lessons, but she always said that she does not want a lesson and what I have to teach her is plenty.  Which I did not quit agree with, because yes I can teach her very basics, but I am not a profy, I know my limitations thank-you-very-much.  It was very amazing to hear that this year she want to take a leap and be signed up for classes.  It did not take long to find a perfect class for her, yeah!

Today I got to take her second session, which was amazing.  I have not seen her that happy!  She really enjoyed her class because she have not stopped smiling for an hour!!!!  In a beginner class she was the most confident, she was brave, she new what she was doing, she was not afraid to fall, she knows it does not heart to bad (thank-you-very-much), she was just amazing.

On a side note kiddo has a good taste, she would like a new hat , and she knows exactly what she wants!

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Here is a little preview of what I am working on right now.

I got an idea for this project late Sunday night, Monday night after the crochet class I’ve decided on the perfect yarn for this project.  Tuesday evening I was playing with different stitches trying to find just the perfect combination.  It took three different sets of stitches, but I think the final selection is just perfect!  The combination between linked double crochet and star stitch is awesome.  Actually those two are my most favorite stitches at the moment.  I discovered linked double crochet right before I made Hannah and Halley Playset for Interweave.  The love continued into Blueberry Popover.  The discovery of the start stitch happened just few month ago when lady at a knit/crochet night showed it to me.  I was hooked (pun intended) right then and there.  The same night I’ve made a pair of booties using the start stitch that are currently pending for publication (fingers crossed).

The yarn for this project is pretty spectacular too. It’s Malabrigo Sock in a very beautiful color Turner.  The weight of this yarn is between lace and fingering = light fingering, so not true sock.  It’s very very soft superwash merino wool.  As you can see the color is gorgeous and you would just have to believe me on the softness.

Having a project that combines all my favorite things like awesome stitches and amazing yarn, makes this project very hard to resist.  Will probably make myself put it down and dangle the possibility of working on it as an incentive to make me work on not so desired tasks on my to do list.

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