As promised, here are some more ideas for you to try. Spice things up and crochet something different! Start with one of these, maybe:
Freeform is a favorite technique of mine. If you haven’t tried it, lose the rules and learn to go with the flow. Freeform takes full advantage of the versatility of crochet. Anything we can wrap around a hook can be crocheted. We can create a totally different look by using a surprising hook size with a standard yarn or thread. Add rows of varying stitches. Change yarn color and size. Throw in some beads or charms. Like I said, lose the rules. Take advantage of the bits and pieces of yarn and thread you have in your stash to create a small or large ‘scrumble’. Applique it to a sweater or jacket or put a pinback on it and pin it to your hat. There’s no end to what you can do with your hooks if you give in to the spirit of this technique. Like the sunburst below…..
Isn’t this a splendid sunburst? It was created by a woman in Brisbane, Australia in freeform technique. To explore this technique further, check into books and weblinks to Prudence Mapstone, Margaret Hubert and others.
http://www.freeformcrochet.com/designs.html
Another winning idea is Modular Crochet. There is a great, but out of print book, that is a textbook for Modular Crochet (Design Crochet, edited by Mark Dittrick, Hawthorn Books, Inc., New
York, 1978, ISBN 0801520193 ). But, once you understand the technique, you don’t really need a book.
Modular crochet (and knit) is a technique that is worth the time for any crocheter to learn. It’s simple, geometric, and highly adaptive. This site is a good place to start:
http://hookandi.blogspot.com/2006/01/modular-and-top-down-crochet-great.html
In a completely different vein, there is Rickrack crochet, combining the woven edging used by sewers called ‘rickrack’ and thread crochet, you can create Rickrack crochet.
Rickrack crochet is such a pretty technique. It looks both vintage and current! Pretty for inserts on garments and linens. Try you hand at this with some scrap yarn and a package of rickrack and sew it to a hand towel to make a pretty gift.
http://primrosedesign.blogspot.com/2006/02/rickrack.html
About.com also has some good info on the rickrack technique:
http://crochet.about.com/library/weekly/aa090400.htm
Thanks for the link! Just wanted to mention that, if you like the rickrack technique, look for vintage crochet pattern books at flea markets and antique malls. Books with patterns for edgings often have a few pages devoted solely to designs for encasing rickrack. There are lots of ways to do it, all really pretty. I just wish I knew how to crochet 🙂
Hi JD,
Just wanted to let you know that the crochet sunburst you show in the photo above was actually created by Barbara Hillery van Elsen from New York.
Lovely suggestions!