Tag: crochet

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Knitting Vs. Crochet

 

Knitting Vs Crochet: do you have a preference?

The debate continues: which one is better? It is an ancient argument.

For the record, knitting is older – way older.

This is knitting.

This is crochet.

They are different – though people tend to use them interchangeably.

I learned them both at the same time but my sister got me some yarn and needles and knitting won out. It would be more than 20 years before I picked up a crochet hook.I was married and learned my mother-in-law had to give up knitting in favor of crochet because of her eyesight and pain in her hands.

It was frustrating because I wanted to make granny squares and ended up with granny cups. Then a friend introduced me to the crochet corner. I made the squares and then the blankets and the sold the blankets in my shop.

Crochet is fun and has an elegance but knitting is my go to. I find there are more things to create with knitting than with crochet. I find the stitching more beautiful.

So I don’t make this post extremely long, here is an article by none other than Martha Stewart to talk you through the differences between the two.

I am gaining respect for crochet. It is faster. Mistakes are easier to fix and the right stitch combinations are lovely. The half double crochet is my favorite and paired with either a single crochet or double crochet, makes a lovely stitch.

But knitting is flat out beautiful. The smoothness of the stockinette stitch and the texture of the bamboo stitch and the fact you can blend the two if them together and make a beautiful fabric is still fascinating to me.

There are two projects going: a knit set of golf club covers and a crochet afghan. The covers have faux cables in them. Cables don’t look good in crochet. They instantly looked dated to me. But the flow of the afghan pattern is lovely and you just want to touch it. Crochet is more sensual because you’re always touching the fabric. In knitting, you are always touching the needles.

I am finding I don’t want to choose between them anymore and I am happy I know how to do both and to design in both.

 

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It Relieves Stress

During the lockdown, knitting and crochet had a resurrgence in the middle of their resurrgence because it relieves stress. There was already an uptick in knit and crochet and that tick multiplied itself many times over with 1. The pandemic. 2. The new VP crochets. 3. The second gentleman’s daughter, Ella, exploding Instagram with her crochet and knitted goods.

We’re in a cycle now where half the folks in the US are going to be stressed. The pandemic is still top news and it’s not really clear how the states reopen and politically, it’s now the other half’s turn to feel as if we’re in the hands of a madman.

Knitting and crochet can only do so much.

For those of us who knit and crochet for a living, this has been something of a good period. I normally slow down in February but the beginning of the year turned out pretty great for me. I am hoping it continues in the fall but I am a little late in getting out spring/summer gear and fall is coming round the bend like the anchor in a relay race.

But because knit and crochet are such a part of my existence and because I aready work from home, the lockdown was pretty much what other folks had to do. My life didn’t change that much except we couldn’t go out to dinner. I was taking the lockdown in stride until the people around me went off into a different mode and until I found myself with orders in the beginning of the year. 

I did experience a little stress. And I had to turn to other places to find some relief. I discovered audiobooks and podcasts. I could turn on one of those and combine it with knit and crochet and be educated and entertained.  Audiobooks can be hit or missed based in who is doing the reading but podcasts are a great source to take a breather with even if it’s about Etsy shop success.

I listen regularly now to something that peaks the interest and keeps the stress level down. It relieves stress for me. I hope everyone finds something that helps them out.

 

 

 

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The Circle of Life

It’s the circle of life that leads us on….yeah, nice song, but that isn’t the circle that’s on my mind. The one that’s on my mind is the circle of life that is our wedding bands. We had new ones made for our 25th anniversary. These are they:

We are thinking of doing a Zoom vow renewal. We could do it and then get them resized at our leisure.

Something to think about as I think about how to do a Zoom vow renewal.

On mainstreet in Knitsville, there’s plenty of work going on from the restart of a crochet afghan using the colors of the rainbow plus black, to the creation of scarf and hat combos, it looks like yarn has exploded around the studio. This is not going to get better as I just ordered 3 sets of Zing double points and 2 of the Lion Brand santa bags which has 9 skeins each, an order from Premier that has 15 balls and yet another from Lion Brand that has 13 skeins – all told about $170. I spent that from the money I got from being an election judge. I still have some left over. Money and yarn.

I know I am going on a yarn diet. There’s more than enough to get things done. I am using the older yarn in the stash as well as some of the new yarns. I broke out the Yarn Bee Sugarwheel and made a scarf/hat combo. It turned out well. Did mention I also ordered a new wig for Naomi? She needs some hair as an option. I have five packages coming. It’s gonna be like Christmas.

 

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A New Adventure

I am off on a new adventure. A new crochet adventure. A new crochet garment adventure. I blame my sisters because it is their fault. It was my fault for showing it to them so I own up to my part.

This is on my hook: Kanata Kerchief TankIt is the Kanata Kerchief Tank – free on Ravelry. I had told them I might make this instead of making the halter top.

My elder sister wanted to know if I would make both. I said I didn’t think so. I didn’t want to get into garments that deep so I would probably make the halter since I sold almost every one I made.

She then wanted to know why I would discriminate against ‘hefty girls’ when the tank would accommodate more diverse body styles. May I note that neither my elder or eldest sisters would wear either of these. Not the one who isn’t hefty and not the one that thinks she is. I wouldn’t wear them either. I think they’re as cute as can be and it is an enjoyable knit and crochet, but I don’t have the body for them. Looking at it, I could probably pull off the tank but I’m a little short in the torso and we must recognize our limitations.

Regardless, I went out and purchased some Caron Skinny Cakes because the tank is a yarn eater. I’m on the second of four. Though I purchased 3 weight yarn, I am using the Caron One Pound that feels like someone was supposed to make one pound and made simply soft but without that yucky simply soft feel. I think it’s a great fiber to use. It feels great and drapes well. I also have an order for a lace slouchy I have to get out. 

That’s also a new adventure – getting orders year round. I like it.

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And Just Like That

And just like that, I find myself back in order mode. I got two orders in today for crochet slouchy beanies. I had the yarn for one and not for the other so Mr. Honey had to drive over to JoAnn to pick it up for me. (Because we are down to one car – I told him it wouldn’t work. I don’t think he’s going to want to pick up my supplies for me very often.)

This is one of them. I like it. As of this writing, three more folk have this in their cart. If you want to join them, find the listing here.

Of course order mode comes when I have three items on the needles. Design and stock mode means having more than one thing going on. It is about to become four because I am going to have to put in some of the summer beanies in the shop along with the headband, basic beanie and the hooded scarf.

 I did buy more than two dozen skeins of cotton yarn. I had some in the stash already and it should be used for something. What’s one more thing to add to the pile? I will be in order mode for just a couple of days – unless this summer beanie begins to take off. That would something to hope for.

Cotton yarn is going to be my friend for the next few days. I am feeling hopeful and I want to strike while the iron may be warming up. A few summer sales is the goal. Just like that I would be a four season shop!

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Riddle Me This

Caron One Pound

Riddle me this, Batman. I am using Caron yarn to make all the pocket shawls. Caron Big Cakes were used for the pattern prototype. You can read about it here. 

For the ones that are in the order, I am using Caron One Pound. It was the one brand that had all the colors I wanted available and they are plenty big skeins. In the two previous shawls, I needed two skeins. So off to JoAnn I went and got the ten skeins I would need. Pretty, eh?

 I think so, too. I figured I would just leave them there and pull them as I needed them. I started with the light gray.  It is even more gorgeous in person. Here’s the thing: it took less than one skein – including all that fringe. 

What?

I know, right? I can’t explain it. And it’s even longer than the 60 inches I planned on.The yarn was plied differently than I was used to but it was still worsted but I had 71g left over.

OK, so I started the next one in the cream. I can already see this is more lush than the gray. I don’t have a problem with it – it’s going to be every bit as wonderful as the gray but I’m betting it will take more than the one skein to pull it off. But don’t you love how cushy it looks? Riddle me this, too: Just like the gray one, it is longer than when I did the original measurement and the sides aren’t wonky. It just grows. Knit math. I tell you. It adds and subtracts at will.

The pattern for this is all done and will soon make it’s appearance and you can experience all the Knitsville voodoo for yourself.

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Anytime I Want

It appears as if the pocket shawl is now a thing. So, of course, I had to try and make one of my own. OK, I made two. But let me clear, I can stop making this shawl anytime I want. It’s not like I’m obsessed with it.

However, I will make five more because someone ordered them and I do run a business. I decided to do my own pattern and it will be available shortly. I have the photos and the notes. They have to be put together and then it’s a go.

Someone sent me a photo of a pocket shawl and wanted to know if I could make it. There was no need to purchase the pattern, it looked straightforward enough, so i just make my own pattern. The one on the left is the pattern sample. There were some changes I wanted to make to the pattern and I wanted to make one in the fiber I was going to use for the order and made the one on the right. The left is Caron Big Cakes in Cranberry Crisp. The right is Caron One Pound in Mango – color is discontinued. Neutral colors will be used for the order.

Black, gray, cream, taupe and a color to be named later will be ordered once I have the deposit and the fun can begin. It was fun making up the pattern and redesigning the pocket about three times and I think it will look great in the neutrals. But I can stop anytime I want. I can, I really can.

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The Finish Line

 

I can see the finish line for the blanket. Which means I will continue until I reach the desired six feet mark or until it’s time to leave for the party. The first update, the blanket was in the infant stages. 

Remember this from last month? The time when the world was new and dreams were tangible? The good old days.

 

 

 

A few scant weeks later and here we are. As you can see, it takes up the space. It no longer fits on the small table but it was fun trying to get it to. But I know that doesn’t really give a good look to the stitches, though you can definitely see the texture. 

 

How about this one? I can’t believe how the light changes in the same room only a few feet apart. This is taken without the flash and the colors are not that bright.

But you can see it. It might seem like it’s big enough but it’s still too much of a rectangle. Needs to fill out a little more and it will be good to go.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In other news, I have been using chunky yarn and made two cowls and have a third one on the hook.This is using the Buttercream Luxe Craft Alpaca. I have the idea of making a less chunky but still chunky version of this cowl using the Tea Cakes. This is using two strands of yarn. That makes it very chunky and cozy but also makes it very expensive.

 

I’ve also started using Ice Yarns Glitz! It’s taken a while to get there but it’s on the needles and the work has progressed a far cry from what you see here. 

I’ve also started doing some embellishments but haven’t done any photos but they are coming. I did say I was ready to start doing the 2020 stuff, right?

I still have two more things to start. I pulled some cotton yarn to start my market bag – one of two market bags; one knit, one crochet. And then I need to start the fingerless gloves.

Did I mention we also just purchased a condo? Nope, not busy over here. Not at all.The finish line seems to have moved.

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Happy New Year

Don’t judge me. It took me a minute to remember I haven’t yet posted this year. I was doing the last few orders and the final was shipped off a few days ago and now I am free…

…to start working on 2020 items. I did take a few hours off and played some Candy Crush Soda but then it was back to work. Though there are no deadlines so the work is a little more relaxed.

I have three items on needles or hooks – not counting the afghan I need to finish for Mr. Honey’s family gathering next Sunday. It is a crap shoot to see how finished it gets. I measured it yesterday and it was a little over 2 feet long. I’m headed for 6 feet. It’s 3 rows to the inch. 

Let’s do the math, shall we?

It’s 31 inches as of this morning. We want to get to 60. 60-31=29. 3 rows to the inch. 29×3=87 rows. 9 days. 87/9=9.666. I think the 666 is significant. 

This seems doable. I will show you the process I am making in another post. When I have the camera upstairs. But 9 rows of 171 stitches could be manageable. Someone wake me up from this dream.

It should also come to no surprise that I changed the pattern. The intention to do the fast and easy blanket was real. But you all know I am a chronic changer. But hey, it’s still an afghan and it’s still being crocheted, so that’s something. I did think about how to create knit stitches but time didn’t allow it.

I will be more than happy to post my version right here on the blog when it is done.You really should have known I would change it. I mean, it’s a baby blanket and I just told you I have 170+ stitches to a row. Do you think that would have been my only change? It’s like you don’t know me at all.

As I was saying, I have three things currently going and two more items that will probably get their start today. I have a Claire Outlander cowl started (it’s way too basic to even call it a pattern but I will also post how I did it and you won’t have to buy it.) I also have another cowl and then some embellishments – currently hearts. The first of the fingerless mitts will be started and the first of the market bags.

I have my first orders of 2020. I kicked one off pretty quickly and the other was a pattern. I’m excited for the new patterns coming. Of the five items that are going on, only the embellishments are the only things I’m not doing from scratch. There are other things I want to do that I will use a pattern (as far as my condition allows.)

All in all, the beginning of the year looks really hopeful and creative. So Happy New Year!

Looking forward to it. I don’t do resolutions. Do you?

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It Is Finished

For a moment I didn’t know what I was going to do with myself. It is finished. We were out last night on our date night. Which was later than usual because Mr. Honey volunteers the second Thursday of each month and we eat afterwards. I told him I didn’t know what to do with my mornings when I remembered his family get together is in January. For the past five years, I’ve made an afghan to give away. Everyone’s name goes into some kind of receptacle and one name gets pulled out. You can’t win it two years in a row.

I have not yet started the afghan – I usually have one lying around but not this year. So, one will have to be made fresh. I was fretting about which blanket to make when my Google feed showed a really lovely one. Which I did not bother to look at right at that moment. I would have to scour Google to find it and I did on the YouTube. It’s here in case you want to know what it is. It’s a simple two row repeat. Which means I only made minor adjustments. I just don’t know how to leave well enough alone.

First, it’s sized for a baby blanket and I want something bigger.So I increased the chain. Second, I am almost always wary of just jumping into pattern rows so I like to make a base row. So while the pattern says one thing, I made a  row of single crochet just to make myself feel better. The row also serves another purpose. I am using one skein of Caron One Pound Century in Golden Yellow. I remember when I bought it years ago. I got two of them. I know where one is. I don’t think I have the other one. I have approx. 800 yards to make this work. The base row is so I don’t have to make the larger edge she worked into her blanket. One row of single crochet, then sc in the first and last two stitches, should give me enough of an edge.

It is not lost on me that I am doing a somewhat mindless crochet project, albeit an important one, right after doing a sweater that caused ingrown hairs in my brain. My breathing is somewhat normal. Though I am using a Tunisian afghan crochet hook to make it. Hey, it was was the only one available. Heaven forbid I go downstairs, get a hook and come back up.

I am expecting a new laptop to arrive today. I had to order a new one because the b on this one takes forever to type. It is worn out. In fact, I have a line of b’s sitting here in a row and I go get one when I need one so I can rock the flow. It didn’t occur to me to just make a few then copy and paste as needed. Then again, if FedEx holds true, this is the only time today I will need to worry about it. Though I will hold on to them because this can be the backup laptop and I will need them.

bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb bbbbbbb BBBBBBBBBBBB Might as well leave them here. Just in case.