• Akris and the love of stocking stitch

    08Mar
    Categories: fashion, knit Comments: 0

    My blog posts? I think I need to do some freeing up, stretching and shaking out. Possibly focus on my breathing too. My posts are too tense, too thought out.

    Anyway. I remember a year or so ago discussion on Ravelry about “beastly” knits. Designers hating knit wear, making it look oversized, strangling, ugly. Since then, my eye has changed. My thinking too.

    For me, this is a celebration of the stocking stitch. Its right side and, cleverly, a view of the wrong side as a simple collar. It’s huge stocking stitch, magnified. So you really look at it again with fresh eyes. In striking colour that you can’t ignore.

    Oh, that giant cast on, and cast off! If you knit: how many times have you stared at those stitches, counting them? Now they’re plain for all to see, on the cuffs. And that slight sag, forming the peplum (restrained by a narrow belt, is it threaded through?)

    Too bulky? Look, if you live in a really cold climate, I’m sure most of your Winter clothes are rather bulky. Makes you look too fat? … or doll like?

    See, my eyes have changed.

    Image used for review: style.com

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  • The joy of craft classes

    18Feb
    Categories: Amigurumi, sewn Comments: 4

    DblCrochetI’ve taken a couple of craft classes recently: decided I’d learn something enjoyable before Uni holidays end and my mind fills up with real study. I did Beginners Crochet and Adult Sewing. Took my kid, M, along to a class for toddlers too, before her school starts. Love her swooshy painting, she had fun. Also in the photo, the double stitch crochet square I’ve finished in spare moments.

    It is lovely doing a class: being with other people excited to craft; discussing by pointing, touching and showing; hearing things you never thought to ask (machines can knit, but there are no machines that crochet, it’s always totally by hand). And it’s such a confidence boost to know most of my self-taught ways are actually the “proper” way!

    I’ll be back at my desk, in my usual creative space next week. But I must say I’ve enjoyed being out and about.

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  • My creative space #002

    04Feb
    Categories: Amigurumi, home Comments: 6

    DeskLeft002Thank you so much for your comments last week! I had fun. Mind if I do it again?

    1. Kid’s art. Still not on wall, but looking nice and colourful in the morning light.

    2. New library books. I can never borrow just one. Also, I’ve been trying to dig out all the Bendigo Woollen Mills shade cards I have – I don’t think the website does the colours any justice. And, to be honest, Bendigo’s prices are really reasonable, particularly if you have ideas involving a lot of yarn…

    3. Yes, I drew that background! (Sorry, couldn’t help myself!)

    4. Kid’s heights and other measurements, in case the sewing urge strikes. The littlest is nearly a metre tall! (She’s just turned 3.)

    5.  Chinese dictionaries, balloons, pencil case. I think this weekly showing-my-desk-thing might be good for me: I actually tidied the Christmas pudding into the storage cupboard ;-)

    6. Ideas.

    DeskRight002

    7. Went to IKEA on the weekend. You’ll be pleased to hear I bought a little bin (see 9 last week). And I bought a random orange tin I’m not sure what I’ll do with, some more kid’s bowls, some finger puppets … as well as the drawers we really went to buy.

    8. Crochet project. I’m really enjoying it.

    9. Sewing machine, still untouched.

    10. Yes, dear patient library, I will return it on time! (Hate it how the length of time you can borrow changes if someone else requests the book. Even though it’s totally fair enough, I’ve requested books too)

    11. The books mentioned yesterday.

    12. Stain on the table, although I try to be careful. Argh! (I did later manage to scrape it off)

  • Learning crochet: the single (UK: double) crochet controversy

    03Feb
    Categories: Amigurumi Comments: 4

    SingleCrochetSo, I’ve had to admit to myself that despite crocheting Amigurumi (several unblogged) and making a crochet scarf several times over (because I changed my mind about colours), I don’t actually know how to crochet. Or if I did once know, I’ve clearly forgotten. Crochet doesn’t feel comfortable and natural to me, the way knitting does.

    I decided I’d learn to crochet. Systematically, properly, mindfully. The right way once and for all, so that I won’t forget or get confused ever again.

    Anyway. I was following along with a pamphlet from the American School of Needlework (subtitle: “excellence in instruction”), when something just didn’t seem right … the first row (if I understood correctly) was different to all the subsequent rows. Why? I decided I’d just check with a couple more books.

    Now, I’ve always known that there are differences between US and UK crochet terminology. Doesn’t worry me. (Although it’s a little disconcerting the library has 2 basic crochet books published by Reader’s Digest, one with US and one with UK terminology, and no indication on the books which is which …)

    It wasn’t until I read Debbie Stoller’s The Happy Hooker (ISBN 978-0-7611-3985-0) that I understood what was going on. She explains crochet is a newer craft, so there really isn’t a proper, once-and-for-all-correct way to do some things. Like single (UK: double) crochet. She calls the method I was learning “not-so-technically correct”:

    “There are a good number of books that show it this way, and there are plenty of crocheters who do it this way, too-many of whom have taught themselves using these books. To crochet into the chain using the cheater’s method, simply insert your hook under only one strand of the V. It’s certainly easier to do than the other methods I’ve described, but also less aesthetically pleasing, as it can leave large loose loops…”

    I agree about the aesthetics bit. Stoller then conciliates, saying do what you like. I went back and noticed one of the Reader’s Digest books views crocheting only into the front, or only into the back of the Vs running along the top of your fabric as “variations”. I decided to try the variations. Not just for the first row, but for all rows.

    And wow, doesn’t a little change in technique make a big difference to how it looks?

    Left:

    Single (UK:double) crochet only into the back of the V. Result: distinct ridges, very stretchy, would make nice ribbing turned on the side.

    Centre:

    Single (UK:double) crochet only into the front of the V. Result: alternating rows of ridges and knots. Flatish. And not very aesthetically pleasing, in my opinion.

    Right:

    Single (UK:double) crochet the Stoller way, hooked under both parts of the V. Flat, knotty, a bit lacy looking.

    I’m glad I experimented. I’m planning to go further, see the effect of changing techniques in the middle of a row, or between rows. I’ll let you know ;-P

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  • Crafting 365 & the meant-to-dos

    24Jan
    Categories: Amigurumi Comments: 1

    Day1Hahaha! That’s my result for the first day of vowing to work on my crafts each day. Took me an hour ;-)

    No, it’s not a play for sympathy, I honestly thought it was funny and ironic: I had to share. I’m planning to make an Amigurumi, but unlike the other times I’ve made one, I’m following someone else’s pattern. Meaning I need to learn crochet terminology properly. I was going to follow Pip’s calm, step by step video course; got derailed by the how to hold your yarn (realising I usually did something totally different); thought I’ll just follow the instructions in the book; switched to trying a tension gauge ’cause I’m a little worried my yarn is too thin and … yes! ended up with a mess!

    I’m totally not worried, I know I can crochet. Or learn to. In fact, when I think about it, that’s my totally normal settling-in-to-a-new-project routine. I used to work in community TV, and had to write the current affairs script each week. I got used to the fact that I’d have to throw the first 5 or so away (lucky my boss was a mad paper-recycler, even way back then, when not everyone had a computer on their desk). It’s the way I work: muck around; muck it up; then start again and get it right.

    If you follow me on Twitter, you might have gathered I’m thinking of starting a craft or fashion-based business one day. Sooner rather than later, actually. And I’ve been reading a lot of how-to-blog blogs, you know, like Problogger. And Copyblogger. Even started looking at IttyBiz. And other ones I’m less sure I like. (Actually, this reading about blogging only happened because Twitter started by suggesting “social media gurus” to follow … interesting). Anyway, I’m pretty sure I’m meant to sound like an authority, sound like I know what I’m doing. Because, one day, this could be a business-related blog. But that doesn’t feel honest to me, and I think it might be doing other crafters a disservice, not to admit everyone makes mistakes and has bad days.

    In the photo background, there’s part of my daughter A’s picture. Kids play to learn. Me too.

    And why the effort to craft daily? I’m still feeling the effects of New Year’s resolutions, I think. Yes, I do know it’s nearly February. But it’s rather freeing to think it’s actually better to start your resolutions any time, work on them little by little. And I’m still thinking over a few of Sooz’ posts, they’re inspiring me. But I don’t want another meant-to-do. As you may already gathered, things I’m meant-to-do tend to bring out the rebel in me, particularly where craft or art are concerned. Particularly if there’s no good reason for the meant-to-do. So you may or may not hear about my daily crafting again. Indeed, I mightn’t do it. If you want, look on my Flickr to see.

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