Archive for October, 2010
Dear WEBS – Where’s the crochet?
I was thrilled to see the 2010 WEBS holiday catalogue waiting in my mailbox this evening. I ran right inside – well, hobbled really – to find a quiet spot and do some “shopping.” I have what the doctor believes is a ruptured or slipped disc in my back. Tomorrow’s MRI will tell the full story. But, as you can imagine, I needed a bit of yarn therapy to cheer me up tonight.
Well, I finished browsing through the 50+ page catalogue and I am quite disappointed to report that there are only 2, YES TWO!, crochet patterns featured in the entire issue while there are almost 60 knit patterns. This makes no sense – there are more crocheters and we use more yarn per project. Why then the almost 1:30 ratio of crochet to knitting patterns featured in the holiday gift guide?
So, this is what I have to say about the matter to anyone listening at “America’s Yarn Store”……
Dear WEBS,
Crocheters like beautiful yarns at affordable prices too. Many of us have a rather healthy yarn budget and we like to be inspired, just like knitters, with beautiful crochet patterns. I understand that you use in-house designers – by the way, thank you Kirsten for the adorable penguins – but could you kindly consider hiring a crochet designer or two.
Sincerely,
A Yarn Customer that Prefers to Crochet
Living in Parallel Worlds
For the past couple of days, weeks really, I have slowly begun to realize that living in parallel worlds is not easy. I have been juggling my regular 9-to-5 job and this business, all the while getting very little sleep each night. However, I can’t stop. I have finally found my passion and I must embrace it.
I have so many ideas – hopefully great ones – that honestly, I just don’t have enough time to pursue. I would be lying if I didn’t admit that I am thrilled over the moon with the state of my Hands in Delight business; but, I need more hours in each day – at least, 8 more hours to be exact.
My list of articles to write, patterns to edit, tidbits to blog, tutorials to work-up, class proposals to outline, and designs to submit grows exponentially each week. And, in the midst of all, I have to find time to crochet too. The stitches actually keep my brain alive, and I can’t function without at least a few minutes of “hook time” each day.
I often dream of the day when this IS my 9-to-5 job – no more juggling, just living in a world surrounded by all things related to the fiber arts. Fortunately, my family is super supportive of this dream. But, until then, the madness continues…..
Sure wish I’d been there, but….
at least there’s footage to enjoy! Knitter’s Review presented “A Romp Through Rhinebeck.” Thanks @ClaraParkes for sharing!
Guess where I’m going this weekend?!?
The Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef project has made it to DC and is now on display at the Natural History Museum. I can’t wait to take the kiddos downtown this weekend to check out the fascinating exhibit. My little ecologists are sure to be mystified by these crochet creations and I am positive that they will want to know - “Mommy, can you do that?” Note to self, pick up a copy of Crocheting Adventures with Hyperbolic Planes
A Knitted Wonderland
Every now and then I run across a story that really warms my heart. This week I was fortunate to find such an article. It was all about a group of knitters in the UK who decided to make a knitted replica of their ENTIRE village. In fact, the project was done completely to scale and includes unbelievable details such as teenagers hanging out on the streets, smoke from chimney stakes, and gardens full of tiny vegetables.
In 1986, a group of a dozen ladies from the Mersham Afternoon Club in Kent decided to take on the project after reading an article in Women’s Weekly about another group of knitters who has accomplished the same feat. After 23 years of incredible dedication, the ladies from Mersham had completed replicas of 60 properties in their village. In fact, one of the women’s husband took on the task of calculating all of the dimensions for each building and then crafting mini cardboard templates so that each building could be created to scale.
By the end of the project, the ladies had gone on tour with their knitted creations and raised 10,000 pounds for the village hall fund. In 2009, with many of the original knitters already passed away, the project came to a close and the village was sadly auctioned off. The proceeds from the auction also went to the hall fund.
Digital Yarn Play?
Several months ago, I caught wind of a new Nintendo Wii game being designed with crocheters and knitters in mind. Well, Kirby’s Epic Yarn 
My views on the matter have not changed much from my initial reaction. Personally, I would rather play with real yarn and would be quite disappointed if I received this $50 game instead of 2 skeins of a lovely silk merino blend. However, I will say that Kirby is quite cute and I wouldn’t mind my kiddos spending a few moments delving into a fiber arts fantasty world with him. It just might add a bit more meaning to their trip to next year’s Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. 
Overall, I give the game a C- for needlers and a A+ for young kids.
Resurrecting Crochet
One of my favorite past times is to leisurely stroll through second-hand stores and flea markets. There is something about the possibility of finding the unknown buried treasure that fills me with a surge of joy.
Lately, I have been looking for old, handmade crocheted items with the goal of resurrecting them to their former glory by giving them a place of honor in my home. As I walk through the aisles, I often reflect on those who have come before me who have also found solace and peace in the hook. It saddens me to see their creations, probably filled with love in every stitch, piled high in bargain bins.
This week, my trip to the thrift store was no exception. I saw at least 10 or more handmade crocheted items, including 2 afghans and several placemats and doilies. I decided to walk away with three of my finds, which set me back a total of $3.68.
The placement has a beautiful intricate pattern that I was drawn to right away. It is made up of 24 joined, 2.5” motifs. Interestingly, it seems as if the motifs were joined as a part of the construction of each adjacent motif such that the joining was done while the outer rounds were crocheted.
In addition, I thought that the mini, round doily was sweet. There is something about its imperfections that I find appealing. Perhaps, this was the crocheters first attempt at a doily or working with size 10 thread.
But, the small bread cover really captured my heart. I could so see my grandmother placing this over her homemade rolls or fresh-baked bread with pride.
Do you keep a crochet diary?
Crochet journal cover design by Mary Taylor (www.crochetsoiree.com)
I have found over the years that all dietitians and personal trainers worth their weight in gold will recommend that their clients keep a daily food and exercise diary. This allows you to be accountable and to easily spot time where you can carve out an extra 15 minutes or so of cardio in each given day.
I use to do this religiously too. Well, now that I have let my crochet passion take over all of my free time, my food and exercise diary are less of a priority (note the extra 10 pounds that I am still carrying around!); however, I am at the point where I think I need to schedule my crochet time a bit more. Between juggling my kids’ busy schedule and my work load (My new motto – I work so that I can buy more yarn.), it is easy for this crucial artistic time to fall through the cracks. Let’s say, I need to start keeping a ‘crochet diary.’
First of all, I have several designs that are in various stages of development that I would like to complete before the close of 2010. Second of all, this approach would allow me to get a lot more done with regards to my blog, my new regular column on examiner.com, my tech editing service, my crochet teaching schedule, and my crochet technique ‘experiments.’
This morning, I actually got up early to crochet but I found myself working on a ‘crochet schedule’ instead – planning articles, jotting down more design ideas, etc. So, I realized that for those of us that “have to” crochet or knit on a regular basis or we go a bit bonkers, and/or for those of us who want to take our fiber passion to the next level professionally, keeping such diary and planning out our schedule to include creative time is crucial.
Now, it’s time to get busy planning……
Tunisian Crochet: A Whole New World!
A couple of days ago, I forged full-speed ahead into a new dimension – Tunisian crochet. It all started rather innocently when I couldn’t get a particular design idea I had in mind, and on paper, to work out in yarn. The distant thought of a project I did several years ago using a technique called Crochet on the Double came to mind and I decided to see if I could get the design concept to come together using Tunisian crochet, rather than regular crochet. After all, I did splurge a few months ago on some hand-carved Tunisian crochet hooks with the intention of delving deep into this foray after completing Crochet Lace Innovations by Doris Chan.
Little did I know last week that there are so many beautiful Tunisian crochet stitches. Up until then, I had only mastered the basics – Tunisian simple stitch (TSS). Needless to say, I quickly got distracted from my design. I couldn’t stop “playing,” or “doodling” rather, with my lovely new Tunisian crochet hooks. Here’s one example.
This swatch consists of TSS, Tunisian reverse stitch (TRS), Tunisian knit stitch (TKS), Tunisian purl stitch (TPS), a bit of Tunisian ribbing, and a gorgeous seed stitch.
My goal now it to complete a more comprehensive study of various Tunisian crochet stitches. The possibilities are endless with this technique, so I also plan to explore Tunisian crochet a bit further in some upcoming “chats” with several experts in the field. Not to mention, I already have a few design ideas in mind using Tunisian crochet….yikes, like I said – it’s a whole new world!
New Tutorial: Origami Toe and Heel in Crochet
For the past couple of weeks, I have had sock and slipper patterns floating through my head. I ran across this great technique for making the toe and heel portion of these in several knitting patterns. So, I made it my mission to apply it to crochet and write up a tutorial which is posted in my latest examiner.com column. Enjoy!
I am working on a few patterns featuring the origami toe and heel too. Stay tuned!
