Big Stitchy Finger Project: the shawl

It probably sounds a bit weird to say this, given my crochet obsession, but I've never been that big a fan of wool. Or 'yarn' as I understand the catch-all term to be.

I've always found it scratchy and, aside from for scarves or blankets, a bit old fashioned looking. This obviously changed as I started crocheting and discovered all the beautiful, and sometimes eye wateringly expensive, yarns out there. Plus all the pretty things that can be made with a crochet hook. I'm looking at you little amigurumi strawberries.

Now, as you are sure to find out, I'm not a very 'think outside the box' kind of person. I wish I was, but it's not to be. So it took a lady at my knitting club crocheting a doily, for me to realise that delicate items such as that could be made with a crochet hook.

The excitement was almost unbearable. It was like when I first ate raspberry sorbet and chocolate ice cream together, how had I not known forever that the two are meant to be?

In a daze I rushed to print off a doily pattern and hot footed to my local craft shops to buy crochet cotton and a small hook.

It took a bit of getting used to on my fingers, having only worked with thicker yarns and a bigger hook. But I got there and the doily was made. And I loved it.

The doily now sits awkwardly in my flat, not sure what to do with itself. I imagine I'll find use for it in about fifty years' time, but in the meantime making more doilies seemed pointless in my shoebox home.

I turned to Ravelry for crochet cotton inspiration, and fell upon the official 'world's prettiest shawl'.

Images of me wearing it at weddings and cocktail parties (I'm bound to go to a cocktail party one day, right?) rushed into my head. 

'What a gorgeous shawl.' They'd all say, 'where did you buy it?'

'Oh, what this?' I'll casually smile as I toss it over my shoulder. 'I made it.'

Queue hushed awe.

It's not been the easiest project to get started on as there were some initial errors in the pattern. But the pattern author replied really quickly to my emails through Ravelry and now everything is on track.

I have made 7 of the 19 panels, and have even been (trying to) weave in as I go. Which is pretty virtuous behaviour as far as I'm concerned! 

It's going to be a long process, as each panel takes a good few hours' work, but I really think it will be something to be proud of when I'm finally done.

Then all I will need is a cocktail party or wedding to wear it to. Any invites?

Creative? Not me.

I love making stuff. Have loved it for years. But whenever anyone says that I'm creative I always shake my head.

Just because I love to create, doesn't make me creative, does it?

A little look at dictionary.com shows the meaning of the word 'creative'. Sure, I'm 1 (like everyone, right?), but 2? Hmm I'm not sure about that.

creative[ kree-ey-tiv ]

adjective

1. having the quality or power of creating.

2. resulting from originality of thought, expression, etc.; imaginative: creative writing.

3. originative; productive (usually followed byof)

I can follow a pattern and my stitches are quite neat. I can design and even make a quilt (honestly, it's easier than it looks). But my ideas are rarely original, and when faced with a blank canvas, my mind is often just as blank.

I think this comes partly from trying too hard to be 'creative' and different, rather than just doing what I want to do and what I find attractive.

I sometimes wonder if an innate creativity will be unlocked at somepoint. I can't love making stuff so much and have no talent at all for it...can I?

I guess the answer is, who knows. All I can do for now is keep plugging away at making things and at doing what I love. Perhaps, in time, my hands will become skilled enough to produce the creativity I hope is lurking somewhere inside of me.

Tips for blocking crochet

'Blocking'. A word that since I have known it has always been followed or preceded by 'Urgh.' I didn't get why I had to do it, I didn't have the tools I apparently needed (no room for spare mattresses chez moi unfortunately), and I didn't get how to do it. 

Well, courtesy of my sampler blanket I’ve had to teach myself, and eventually I’ve found an easy way to do it without even having to buy any new or special materials. Hurrah! 

Instructions 

In case you're still questioning this blocking idea, let's start with...

Why bother: 

Here’s a before and after blocking photo of a square for my blanket. I readily admit that I am a reluctant blocker, but this photo convinces me that it really is necessary sometimes. It’s time to just accept that and move on. 

Tools: 

I have read that playmat blocks are really good, and perhaps I’ll invest one day, but in the meantime there is no need as I have found that the yoga mat gathering dust behind my bed is a very good substitute, and as it’s long and thin it’s nice and compact too. So the only tools I need are as follows: 

• Yoga mat (if you don’t have a yoga mat it’s fine to use towels but I found this not quite so easy for the pins to go in)
• Old sheet/pillowcase(s)
• Measuring tape
• Pins
• Spray bottle (I actually bought one from a hardware store but it would be easy just to reuse an old cleaning product one that has been thoroughly washed out.)

How to:

The first bit is simple. Cover the yoga mat in a sheet. Not too taxing a task, right? The next step, however, had me stumped for a little while. How did I place those pins correctly to stop the pesky crochet squares escaping from them? The answer will be clear to those clever sciency types out there, but for me it was trial and error to realise that it’s all about the angle...

Simply place the pin so that it’s leaning away from the crochet work and the naughty little piece won’t try to escape. Success!

Big Stitchy Finger Project: the Blanket

It's not called a "Granny Square"
for no reason!

"Crochet is for old people." I said a few years ago."I'll do it when I'm a grandmother."

I was wrong. For it didn't take being a grandmother to get me hooking, it took a week at my Mum's village in Devon around Christmas time 2012.

Where she lives is lovely and picturesque with rolling hills, the sound of cattle lowing, and historic cottages that just ooze charm. But charm and prettiness can only go so far when the peak of weekly entertainment is the free Thursday Tesco bus.

Seven long, dark, cold days stretched ahead of me. Just me, my Mum, and her passion for crime dramas. In a state of desperation I scoured the craft magazines at WH Smiths looking for inspiration. I saw the first edition of a crochet magazine that came with wool, hooks and DVD instructions. "That'll do." I said. 

And so a new addiction began.

Over that week I learnt the basics. Nearly giving up several times as handling that hook and keeping the tension right is not the easiest thing to grasp. Literally.

But eventually I got there, and to celebrate I bought the book '200 Crochet Blocks' as an added little Christmas present, with the idea that I'd make a sample blanket and teach myself new techniques.

And although I don't like to brag, that approach has really worked for me. It has indeed meant that I'm working on different stitches all the time. And different blocks mean that I don't get bored, which is something I'm inclined to do quite quickly once I've mastered(ish) something.

I chose pastel colours because I think they're pretty and a bit different to what blankets are usually worked in. (Perhaps there was a little part of me thinking it would make a nice blanket for any future small person but let's not go there!)

Eighteen months or so later I am only ten blocks away from block completion, and I'm really starting to believe that I might finish it. I know there is still the blocking, joining and perhaps a border to do (which will be interesting seeing as I don't think any two blocks are actually the same size), but I've decided to bump it up my priority list because even though I used to think that crochet was just for grandmothers, I don't want this blanket still in my "work in progress" pile when I'm a granny myself.

Stitching a life's ambition

I often think that crochet is an excellent way to watch telly guilt free.

Evenings spent re-re-re-re-etc.watching Pride and Prejudice aren't wasted with a hook and some pretty yarn in hand.

Sometimes, I wonder if the programmes I'm watching could somehow have an effect on what I'm making. For example, while on holiday at my Mum's at the beginning of July I watched a lot of Wimbledon while making a baby blanket. Will the little one who ends up with that blanket grow up to have good tennis skills?

Just imagine...I could assign a telly theme to each thing I make...

There could be the 'Period Drama Doily' that is guaranteed to increase the levels of politeness and chivalry in your life. 

Or the 'Rom-com Rag Rug' that will ensure unlikely romantic connections and adventures (and that you will live in an appartment that most people couldn't afford on your salary.)

People could request that a particular programme is watched during the making of, say, some baby booties for their newborn. I might have to organise a pre-approved list though. I don't want myself getting tied into hours upon hours of something like Made in Chelsea.

And I guess I would have to avoid thrillers and murder mysteries as it wouldn't be very socially responsible to work those thoughts into a scarf or pair of gloves. And fast cars too for that matter. I'll have to tell Nerd (my boyfriend) to watch the Grand Prix in another room. I'm sure he'd understand, it wouldn't be right to pass on dreams of driving dangerously fast to a little one.

Yes, there's definitely no reason to feel guilty about hours of telly watching if crochet is involved, as long as the right kind of programmes are being watched.

I'm dreaming of a crochet Christmas

Ok, so I know that July is not yet out and that we're having the hottest days of the year and all that...but I think it's time to start planning for Christmas.

I'm not taking about getting the turkey ordered (which would be weird anyway as I'm a veggie), but about getting presents organised.

You see, I've decided to go a bit Kirstie Allsop and make as many as I can myself.

This has several benefits, such as potentially saving money and learning/honing some skills. But also, I've quite simply run out of other ideas for interesting presents. 

My crochet bible

The list of makes is, so far, as follows:

• Four pairs of socks (pattern from my crochet book)
• Three pairs of child's wrist warmers (pattern from my crochet book)
• Two (perhaps more) sets of snowflakes (will test out some internet patterns)

I may also make some pom pom baubles and Christmas decorations. And today I bought some yogurts in glass jars with the idea that I can crochet some jar cosies and make them pretty tea light holders. I might make some cards too.

Oh my what am I doing typing here I'd better get working!

Here's hoping that my makes turn out ok. I have five months to practice. And if they're all a total disaster, I guess there's always the nice tin of M&S biscuits option.

Welcome!

I love to craft, and I love to write.

So here's a thought.

Let's write about crafting!