May
9
CRAFTBITS CROCHET SCORES!
May 9, 2008 | 1 Comment
Have you checked out the free crochet patterns at this blog’s parent site recently? Go to www.craftbits.com and click on ‘crochet’ on the left side of the screen. There are scads of great free patterns there! Here are a few of my personal favorites:
How cool is this granny-inspired bag made from recycled grocery bags?
Here’s a vintage look beaded doily that is just lovely:
This would make a cute pool cover-up. Summer will be here before you’re ready!
This little felted bag is a real beauty. Think of all the ways you could use it.
And, finally, wouldn’t this make a nice treat for Mom? Quick, easy, and attractive - a pillowghan.
The craftbits site has lots of other free projects for crochet, knitting and any number of other crafts. It’s great to have such a good source of free goodies for us crafters. So many of our family and friends appreciate the thought and care that goes into a lovingly handmade gift. Visit often as they’re always adding something new!
May
4
CROCHETING THROUGH ADVERSITY
May 4, 2008 | 11 Comments
I’m planning to write
an in-depth story about crocheting through adversity. Please leave your story here. Kindly condense your story as much as possible and do not use real names if you don’t want them to be published. Your email addresses will be visible on this blog but everyone will be anonymous in the future article. Try to give as much information as possible while keeping in mind that I will have a lot of posts to read (I hope!) so keeping your story to its essential elements will be very helpful.
It’s my personal experience that having a crochet project to work on during times of adversity is extremely helpful. If that has been your experience, please share it with me.
The picture above is blurry on purpose. Who feels crisp and in-focus during adversity?
Thanks!
May
3
NOAH AND HIS ARK
May 3, 2008 | 1 Comment
I love the Noah’s Ark baby afghan that appears on the cover of the May, 2008 issue of Crochet!
Reading the pattern got me to wondering. I’ve seen several other crochet interpretations of the Noah’s Ark theme. So, I went looking for them online. Here’s what I found:
http://www.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=1722002
Here’s one that was auctioned on ebay.com. It’s a 3D version of the ark with the thread pattern for sale:
I couldn’t find the source of this pattern that was made in size 10 thread. It looks like quite an undertaking, likely one I wouldn’t attempt, so I didn’t bid on it.
Crochet Cabriolet (Cro8http://members.aol.com/Cabri/crochet.htm) has 5 pages devoted to an extensive Ark and animal collection. It’s a beauty! Here’s one picture from that site:
http://members.aol.com/ChetOlet8/noahark4.htm
The CrochetCabriolet version comes with a detailed story of how it was created and assembled. An ambitious project!
This one is in a Leisure Arts book - if you like patterns that begin with wording something like ‘make 350′ of some tiny square!
Another good looking one is here - at a reasonable price for the pattern:
http://www.afghans4u.com/noah’s_ark
Here’s a nice variation on the theme and a free pattern:
noah’s ark at afghans4u.com crochet
Biblical themes are, of course, timeless. Noah’s Ark appeals to adults and children equally. I like the idea of making a blanket with the Ark on it and small animal toys, a la amigurumi, for the baby to hold and play with. Of course, most any interpretation of this pattern works for me - except the one that begins something like ‘make 300′ of some square. Just can’t go for those. Not only do I not want to make 300 of anything, I certainly don’t want to JOIN those and then weave in all the ends. I would then be crazier than people probably thought Noah was all those years ago!
Apr
29
HOOK REVIEW - PLASTIC HOOKS
April 29, 2008 | 3 Comments
Plastic crochet hooks are sometimes a harsh reality of our lives! For many years, when we needed any hook larger than a K, we had to find a plastic hook. Plastic hooks are cost effective, as in inexpensive, but they aren’t typically wonderful hooks. Some of them are prettier than others, but they all share a couple of inherent problems.
The good old Q hook.
Problem #1 - finish. Most plastic hooks have mold marks. This is the line that runs around the length of each hook and can be especially problematic at the head of the hook. Fortunately, there is usually a quick fix for this problem - an emery board! I have used an emery board on every plastic hook I’ve ever purchased new. I ran across an older set of inline plastic hooks at a thrift store years ago and jumped at them since they had a silky smooth finish. No idea of brand!
Crystallite hooks.
Problem #2 - drag. Yarns don’t like these hooks. The old Q and S hooks were easier to use because we weren’t trying to create a closely gauged fabric. Smaller plastic hooks were more problematic. Newer plastic hooks like the Crystallites have a slicker finish that solves some of this problem. But, I still have issues with drag on any plastic hook. In those super large sizes, like Q, R, S, and T, I will spend the money for a finely finished Jenkins hook since I know they’ll last my entire lifetime and I’ll get my money’s worth out of them over time.
Lion Brand Plastic Hook.
There are plenty of other plastic hooks available at the mass marketers. They’re cheap, colorful, and have their place in your hook holder, but they’ll never replace those great metal and wood hooks that we can purchase for our tool kits.
Apr
21
STORING YOUR CROCHET
April 21, 2008 | 1 Comment
http://www.craftycrafty.tv/2008/04/soft_sweater_storage_box_for_y.html
I saw this today and thought it was a really nifty way to recycle an old sweater.
This got me to thinking about other creative ways to store our FO’s and our yarn stash. I suspect that good shelving is the only way to properly and efficiently store our books and magazines. We all know what those look like - unless of course, we can afford a house make-over using California Closets or a similar style organization system. That would NOT be me!
So, here are some other creative ideas or just useful ideas I ran across:
http://craftster.org/blog/?m=200501
http://knittymcpurlypants.blogspot.com/
Here are a few other ideas that I use in my own stash storage:
*those three tiered wire baskets hanging from nails on my basement rafters
*clear plastic bags filled with goodies, tied in a knot over the neck of a heavy wooden hanger, and, again, hanging from my basement rafters
*clear plastic blanket bags. I bought a lot of 25 of them on ebay for very little money. These are great for keeping WIP’s together.
*clear plastic or canvas shoe bags hanging in closets and in the basement
*the omnipresent ‘Rubbermaid’ boxes with tightly fitted lids. I strongly prefer clear or opaque ones rather than the heavier colored ones that usually cost less. I like to see what’s in there.
*shoe boxes - clear or cardboard
*baskets - wicker, laundry
*cardboard boxes stacked so the open ‘top’ faces outward. I duct tape them together in the back and use cinder blocks to keep them in place and a few inches off the basement floor. These would probably look more attractive if I painted them or covered them with some sort of paper. Too lazy!
*totes - who does NOT have tote bags full of yarn or WIP’s.
Hope this gives you some ideas for storing your stash. We all NEED more room for our wonderful yarn purchases. Remember, if you clear out a space in your stash, you are morally obligated to go yarn shopping!
Apr
18
IF I HAD A MILLION DOLLARS…….
April 18, 2008 | 1 Comment
If money were no object and I had all the time in the world to crochet, how might I spend my time and money???
Here are a few ideas.
http://www.artbeads.com/swarovski-crystal-yarn.html
OBSESSION YARN
http://www.theyarnco.com/yarn/fiber/3
a complete set of:
a complete set of:
pounds and pounds more yarn from this farm:http://slatetopalpacas.com/
a whole set of these beauties:
http://www.glasspens.com/crochethooks/crochethooks1.html
someone to crochet a set of the d’oyley (doily) patterns from this site (especially #5 and #6):
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/15147/15147-h/15147-h.htm
a copy of this book:
http://www.alibris.com/booksearch.detail?S=R&bid=9372280865&cm_mmc=shopcompare-_-base-_-aisbn-_-na
a complete set of the large maple hooks from:
http://www.jenkinswoodworking.com/Jenkins%20Crochet%20Hooks.htm
AND - a full time housekeeper and cook, bill payer, and gardener - in short, a WIFE!
Then, I would have all the time in the world to crochet!
Apr
10
THEY’RE STILL TRYING TO GET US TO BUY THOSE EYELASH YARNS!
April 10, 2008 | 4 Comments
Or - the Trouble With Tribbles (with apologies to Star Trek fans everywhere)!
http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog.jsp?CATID=&PRODID=prd19292&source=search
Eyelash yarns have their place - away from me!! Actually, I don’t hate them. I just hate crocheted projects that contain only them, with the single exception of the scarves made with double strands (often one strand is just a plain old size 10 thread) as they are soft and snuggly. Other items, like babyghans, stuffed animals, sweaters (oh, puh-leeze), etc made most of totally of eyelash yarns are just awful. They must also weigh way too much and would allow for NO air transfer - meaning the poor baby or sweater wearer might suffer heat stroke.
But, everywhere I look, these yarns are on sale - a sure sign they are on their way OUT. That’s fine with me. However, and it’s a big however, these yarns are nice for several applications. I think they’re fun for trimming a scarf for a little girl. They look fine used as a minimal trim around sweater collars for those so inclined. They make nice accents to other crocheted garments and items. And, they’re easy to add a touch of whimsy to purchased gloves and caps
This falls into the category of what not to crochet:
http://www.straw.com/cpy/patterns/splash_afghan_crochet.html
While I personally enjoy the splash of color in the above pictured afghan, I wouldn’t like to snuggle under the thing. Not only would it tickle my nose, I think it probably weighs about 20 pounds!!
I’d much rather see just a touch of fun fur or other novelty yarn used to enhance a basically functional design - just for a touch of whimsy, like this:
http://sparklystrandz.blogspot.com/2007/11/super-sassy-baby-onesies.html
This onesie would be even cuter with a touch of color.
So, I’m saving my partial skeins of fun fur and other novelty yarns to use them as accents on future projects. I think the toddlers (and their moms) among us will appreciate the prudent use - not overuse - of such yarns.
Apr
5
FINDING CROCHET BOOKS ON THE WEB
April 5, 2008 | 1 Comment
I’m always on the lookout for newly released crochet books as well as older crochet books that may have passed me by. I just found this great resource for finding titles and comparing prices:
There are pages and pages of crochet books here, from oldies published by Dover Press to books with release dates in the future. Typically, four or five sources will be listed for each book, complete with prices, shipping fees, and applicable coupons or other deals, like the free shipping on orders of $25 or more on amazon.com (new books).
Here’s one I hadn’t seen or heard about before:
This one is due out in May, 2008:
Here’s another recent release that I haven’t had my hands on:
I really don’t know anything about the reliability of this site, but since one would be ordering from other sites, it seems safe enough to use the search engine here to see what’s available online, new releases, comparative prices, and other pertinent data.
Mar
31
I JOINED THE THRONGS
March 31, 2008 | 5 Comments
http://kimguzman.bravejournal.com/
I joined the throngs of my online crochet friends, and a few locals too, who have purchased Kim Guzman’s latest design, the Garden Party Wrap. This is not to be confused with the failed Garden Party Jacket that I recently attempted to crochet from the unintelligible (at least to me) pattern from Fiesta Yarns.
I printed off the pattern this morning and will choose some yarn from my stash later this evening - after my linedancing class. First things first!
My daughter’s closest friend just became engaged with a wedding planned for June, 2009. The bride wants my daughter to wear this dress as her Maid of Honor:
in the same color, pale lavender, that Julia Roberts wore in ‘My Best Friend’s Wedding’.
I’m thinking that the Garden Party Wrap might be a nice little topper for this dress if the A/C becomes too much. What do you think??
Mar
26
HOOK REVIEW - BOYE HOOKS
March 26, 2008 | 6 Comments
Who hasn’t seen these hooks hanging in every yarn and craft store in America?
Step Back! Don’t reach for them! Don’t be taken in by their shiny package or their nice colors!
Boye hooks, produced by Wright’s Products, are terrible crochet hooks. OK! Don’t throw rotten tomatoes at me or condemn me to cyberhell. I promise that not ALL Boye hooks are bad. Just the new ones!
If you can find an older set of Boye hooks, buy them! They’re great - smooth, well finished, sleek, and useful. The newer ones - not so much. Sadly.
By now, you know I prefer inline hooks. But, I can crochet with any old hook. Right - OLD hook. I can’t crochet with poorly finished hooks that snag the yarn and put a lot of ‘drag’ on the yarn.
Sadly, Wright’s is continuing to market a hook with an excellent brand name but that is a truly inferior product. I urge you to purchase Susan Bates or Clover hooks which are in the same price range and offer superior products.
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