Workin' on New Stuff

I've been working on a new design–my first garment idea. Well, hardly my first garment idea, more like the first one that I came up with a stitch pattern for that I could actually execute. I was making a shawl that was basically a series of loops made of chains, and shaped like a triangle. I realized that if you let the loops hang straight down (as opposed to at an angle, as in the wrap) they form holes that looked like little squares. So I figured out how to adapt the stitch pattern to form a rectangle-shaped piece instead of a triangle, and made three panels of a vest (back and two fronts). It came out okay considering it was my first attempt at sizing and shaping but it needs tweaking. My original idea was to make a beach wrap sort of thing, but I'm not even sure it's going to stay a vest. For one thing, it's too baggy and shapeless. And probably too long. I could fix that, but then it wouldn't cover enough to be a beach wrap. It might just have to go the cardigan route, we'll see.

I used Sensations Boucle yarn for the prototype (green), and it's very forgiving because it hides my seams and the colors change so nicely it would probably make anything look good. I made another swatch in Sensations Sublime (blue), but may not be able to do anything more with that because I'm going to run out and I can't find any more. And the whole concept of this garment needs a re-think. But I like the stitch pattern even though it is plain. Something about the squares intrigues me. I'd like to figure out how to make different sizes of squares in the same panel, or add some kind of embellishment that will make the whole idea "pop." It'll come to me...

It's Done!

A few months ago I decided I wanted to make myself a skirt. A friend of mine who is always wearing one rad skirt or another was participating in "National Skirt Week" or whatever, the idea being to celebrate the coming of spring by wearing a skirt every day for a week. I realized I was sadly lacking in the skirt department, and went pattern hunting on Ravelry (http://www.ravelry.com). I decided on Gallivant by Diana Foss (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/gallivant). Great pattern! It's clever, simple, and way cool. I used Caron Country in the colors Foliage and Green Sheen.

So, it's done! It fits great and has a fun "swish" to it. I half wish I felt like making it a couple more times in Caron Country's other colors because it was really hard to choose green over the purple and teal shades! But green it is and I love it.

Book Review-The Chicks with Sticks Guide to Crochet

The Chicks with Sticks Guide to Crochet, 

by Nancy Queen and Mary Ellen O'Connell

I bought this book when I was just starting out. I was looking for great pictures, fun projects, and most especially, very clear illustrations of how to form stitches. I am a visual learner and I need lots of pictures and not much text. This book satisfied all those requirements. That said, I don't think this book is good enough to be a beginner's only source. It has very good points and a few that I found frustrating. Allow me to elaborate. By the way, of the 31 patterns in the book, I have made (or at least attempted) 11 of them. 

Good Points

And there are plenty. 

1) Good pictures. There is a great section in the beginning which illustrates the basic crochet stitches and how to do them. The pictures are very clear, nice and big, and they don't bog you down with a lot of text. 

2) Lots of information. There are sections on the different weights of yarn, finishing techniques, crochet lingo, kinds of hooks, and kinds of fibers. 

3) Fun projects. Most of them are really easy and look really cool when you're done.

4) Attractive layout. This whole book is gorgeous; it definitely draws you in. The project photos are downright sumptuous!

5) Fun to read. There is plenty to read and learn from in this book, and the chicks make it fun. Their writing style is professional but lighthearted and whimsical. It does NOT feel like reading a textbook!

Bad Points

There are a few.

1) The main thing that bugged me is that the first two projects in the book require felting. Now, if you're me and trying to get started and only just barely getting the hang of the basic stitches, you do not want to bother with extra weirdness like felting. Just give me a simple, dorky little project that I can complete quickly and feel good about myself. Save felting for a more advanced level! 

2) There are projects in the book that are far easier than the first two, but you wouldn't necessarily know that until you work your way through the book. It is set up to be step-by-step learning, but I don't think they did the greatest job of that. 

3) Some of the patterns have sections that are really unclear. I'm saying this even after having set them aside for a while and come back with more knowledge and STILL didn't get it. I have read other reviews and find the same opinion among them, so it's not just me. A couple of the garment patterns later in the book have vagueness issues; the vast majority of the rest are just fine as far as I know.

4) I also would have appreciated it if they would have included suggestions for substitute yarns. The projects in the book are made with these gorgeous yarns that are usually expensive and not necessarily easy to find. While that makes for a fabulous photo, normal people like me who shop at JoAnn's and Michael's and can't always afford the specialty stuff need to know what other (cheaper) yarns could be used instead and still get a nice result. 

Overall, I definitely recommend this book, just make sure you have other sources to help you. Here are my favorite projects from the book, some of which I have made over and over and still love.

Purple Haze Fingerless Gloves

Girls' Night Out Triangle Wrap

Retro Chevron Stripe Throw

Artisan Belt

Surfer Chick Quick Cap

Boyfriend Basket Weave Scarf

My Story

For no discernible reason, I got a bee in my bonnet one day that I wanted to learn to crochet. I have no idea where that sudden desire came from. I have always been creative and a bit crafty, but other than that I can't explain it. It's not like I was dreaming through magazines or had someone give me a crocheted something that was gorgeous, my brain just went "*pop* hey, I wanna learn to crochet. Really bad!"

Side note. There are two events in my early life that connect me to the yarn crafts–both when I was 10-ish. The first is that my grandma showed me how to make a chain. It was the height of Desert Storm, and we were on a plane together and to pass the time we were making little yellow ribbon crochet chains. She may even have taught me a simple stitch, I don't remember. 

The second is that a friend of mine invited me to some 4H open house deal where kids could come and try out different crafts and activities-sort of like mini classes. I picked knitting, and had a great time, but never pursued it afterwards. At 10 or so years old, it probably didn't occur to me to ask anyone to teach me. I went to a class, it ended, and that was that. 

So anyway I went to my nearest Fred Meyer to do my grocery shopping, and while I was there picked up a crochet hook, a ball of Red Heart Super Saver, and one of those 'get started' little booklet thingys (which are terrible, by the way. If you are a beginner, don't buy one of those. The pictures are bad, they are not well written, and are too hard for the rank beginner). I ended up going on YouTube to learn much of the basics, and I soon bought my first book, The Chicks with Sticks Guide to Crochet.

I pretty much have done nothing else since. Ok, I read and work occasionally and see to the ways of my household (married, two small girls) but in my free time I MUST CROCHET A LOT. I couldn't believe how immediately enthralled I was. It was like I should have been doing this all along. 

That is my story in a nutshell. I have learned SO much mostly from trial and error, and hopefully some of those stories will materialize on this blog. You wouldn't believe the goofy mistakes I made along the way that I didn't even realize were mistakes until months later. See you around!

Welcome to my blog!

Hello, fellow crocheters (or whoever else has stumbled across this page)

My name is Sarah and I've been crocheting since January 2009. I have started this blog as a way to chronicle my crochet development for my own benefit, but if I capture your interest and help you out, then so much the better! I intend to post reviews of books I've bought and yarns I've worked with, as well as post pictures of my projects. I like to design my own patterns, so I hope to share some of those. If I get really fancy maybe I'll even post videos of techniques I've discovered through all my trial and error.