Sunday, June 27, 2010
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Lily Chin's Workshop
I am excited about Lily Chin's Workshop in August because I started doing the homework for it, and had fun. It's sorta like crooked crochet, really though it is crochet on the bias and is fun. I am on my third swatch.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Mark Your Territory with innovative stitch markers
How do you hold it -- your place or your stitches in your crochet work? I've been thinking about this (I know that could be dangerous for me). I have experimented with many different kind of st markers recently because I am crocheting a reverse shell lace pattern which requires a minimum of two st markers (not to mention a lot of patience, fortitude, and determination).
What do you use? Here are some possibilities:
1. Those plastic round things that you slide onto your st. They work, most of the time, but they sometimes become slippery little eels and slide off as easily as the slide on, and "poof" just like that you lose stitches and become unraveled. I just hate becoming unraveled, don't you? It is an occupational hazard especially with complicated crochet patterns.
2. A short piece of leftover yarn. This works, too, and rather well most of the time. You can even tie it in a little bow. Of course, sometimes the bow magically unties itself and "Poof" the scrap yarn is colorfully clinging to your work, but not in a stitch, and it is not doing its job. I fired these scrap yarns, severed them without any notice or backpay. If I have nothing else at hand and am desperately in need of a stitch marker I may just hire one as a Temp, but otherwise NO WAY.3. Bread and package holders. These are those little square plastic holders with a hole or a heart in them and a slit to slip over the cellophane package. They are cute, and since we all buy bread anyway, they are free. Not bad for a stitch marker, and very economical for the frugal and those who want to save money for more yarn.
4. Coil-less pins. Now we are getting there. These absolutely do not break and they do not slide out of the stitch. Because they are coil-less, there is one less end for the yarn to get caught in, but that still leaves a closure end of the pin. When the yarn gets stuck in that end - well it splits. "Poof" there goes a perfect stitch. I just hate split ends, don't you? They look and are so messy in the finished product, and not easily repaired.
5. Twist Tie wraps. These are those little, usually green thing-ies, that are tied around bags to keep them closed. They are used for garbage bags, bread bags, pastry bags, fruit bags, under eye bags-oops not under eye bags, but a lot of new and old bags. These work, too. Of course, if you used them as st markers, you also know that underneath that little green paper is a kind of metal or aluminum strip which can cut thru your yarn eventually...and sometimes your fingers as you twist them closed. So "Poof" there goes your nice yarn as well as your nice fingers, and now your masterpiece has blood on it, too.
6. Paper clip - it works, too. And it hangs in there and doesn't easily slip out of the stitch. It doesn't split the yarn, unless you are not careful about the clipping on part. It does take a bit of intelligence to work thru the S shaped maze. Yes, this one is good, and if you keep a supply of them handy, you can even use them to clip to your place in your pattern. I like dual-purpose objects, especially those that don't go POOF.
7. Claw hooks. I bought the one in the photo, and I used them, too. My hands are too big to fumble with the tiny hammer you have have to hold in order to slip the yarn in the opening. They might work with thread, but they are a bit tiny for yarn. And with my giant sized hands, they go "Poof" and disappear into my recliner before I can put them to work.
7. And my newest, most innovative and #1 choice of stitch marker is a BOBBY PIN - the kind with little waves on one side of it. They don't magically slide out of the stitch. You do need 2 hands to slide them on/off, but they are small so they don't leave big holes behind them, they are smooth so they don't cut anything, and you can easily flip them to the side if you need to work over or around them and they stay on, no matter how long you leave them on. And if you have long hair, in an emergency you could use a spare one to pin your hair back out of your eyes. I don't have that problem, tho I do have eyes, my hair is too short to need bobby pins. My non-crocheting friends-yes, I have to admit that I have allowed a few of these into my life-even the die-hards who say "I can't learn to crochet," can't figure out why the ?##%@ I am buying Bobby Pins. A little mystery in one's life is always fun and a good thing to keep relationships interesting, don't you think? Now I ask you, has anyone found a better stitch marker than a bobby pin?
What do you use? Here are some possibilities:
1. Those plastic round things that you slide onto your st. They work, most of the time, but they sometimes become slippery little eels and slide off as easily as the slide on, and "poof" just like that you lose stitches and become unraveled. I just hate becoming unraveled, don't you? It is an occupational hazard especially with complicated crochet patterns.
2. A short piece of leftover yarn. This works, too, and rather well most of the time. You can even tie it in a little bow. Of course, sometimes the bow magically unties itself and "Poof" the scrap yarn is colorfully clinging to your work, but not in a stitch, and it is not doing its job. I fired these scrap yarns, severed them without any notice or backpay. If I have nothing else at hand and am desperately in need of a stitch marker I may just hire one as a Temp, but otherwise NO WAY.4. Coil-less pins. Now we are getting there. These absolutely do not break and they do not slide out of the stitch. Because they are coil-less, there is one less end for the yarn to get caught in, but that still leaves a closure end of the pin. When the yarn gets stuck in that end - well it splits. "Poof" there goes a perfect stitch. I just hate split ends, don't you? They look and are so messy in the finished product, and not easily repaired.
5. Twist Tie wraps. These are those little, usually green thing-ies, that are tied around bags to keep them closed. They are used for garbage bags, bread bags, pastry bags, fruit bags, under eye bags-oops not under eye bags, but a lot of new and old bags. These work, too. Of course, if you used them as st markers, you also know that underneath that little green paper is a kind of metal or aluminum strip which can cut thru your yarn eventually...and sometimes your fingers as you twist them closed. So "Poof" there goes your nice yarn as well as your nice fingers, and now your masterpiece has blood on it, too.
6. Paper clip - it works, too. And it hangs in there and doesn't easily slip out of the stitch. It doesn't split the yarn, unless you are not careful about the clipping on part. It does take a bit of intelligence to work thru the S shaped maze. Yes, this one is good, and if you keep a supply of them handy, you can even use them to clip to your place in your pattern. I like dual-purpose objects, especially those that don't go POOF.
7. Claw hooks. I bought the one in the photo, and I used them, too. My hands are too big to fumble with the tiny hammer you have have to hold in order to slip the yarn in the opening. They might work with thread, but they are a bit tiny for yarn. And with my giant sized hands, they go "Poof" and disappear into my recliner before I can put them to work.
7. And my newest, most innovative and #1 choice of stitch marker is a BOBBY PIN - the kind with little waves on one side of it. They don't magically slide out of the stitch. You do need 2 hands to slide them on/off, but they are small so they don't leave big holes behind them, they are smooth so they don't cut anything, and you can easily flip them to the side if you need to work over or around them and they stay on, no matter how long you leave them on. And if you have long hair, in an emergency you could use a spare one to pin your hair back out of your eyes. I don't have that problem, tho I do have eyes, my hair is too short to need bobby pins. My non-crocheting friends-yes, I have to admit that I have allowed a few of these into my life-even the die-hards who say "I can't learn to crochet," can't figure out why the ?##%@ I am buying Bobby Pins. A little mystery in one's life is always fun and a good thing to keep relationships interesting, don't you think?
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