A Wealth of Washcloths . . .

It seems as if I spent most of last year in pain.  No, not the pain of a watching a steadily deteriorating 2012 presidential election campaign, nor the pain of living in a swing state, although by the time November 6 had rolled around, I was ready to unplug myself from all modern -- and not so modern -- communication mechanisms.  And, no, not the pain of a slow recovery from two back-to-back minor car accidents that had me in weekly physical therapy for 6 months.

Rather, I'm talking about the pain of tendonitis.  For much of last year, I suffered from recurring tendonitis in my right wrist.  Tendonitis is a bitch, particularly when the inflammation holds hostage the very muscles one uses for a favorite activity.  At several points in the year, I would pick up my hook, make a hat or two, only to have to immobilize my wrist when the pain came flaring back.  Even a steroid shot didn't provide long-term help.

Happily, I can report that the inflammation is virtually gone.   As I struggled to figure out why the pain kept returning, I discovered that how I cradled my wrist when I crocheted further inflamed an already inflamed tendon. 

As  recovered, I took crochet slow and in small doses.  I focused on crafting a series of washcloths for my eldest, eldest niece, who recently moved to New York City where she is living on the shoe string budget of a struggling actress cum waitress.   As I experimented with ways to reduce the chance of aggravating the tendonitis, I toyed with different yarns (cotton, hemp, linen) and stitch patterns.  

I even managed to get over my dislike of the front post stitch.   Executed only on the front side of the fabric, in alternating rows, the fpdc created a beautifully textured designs, such as these two squares. 



Tree of Life Afghan pattern, LionBrand Yarns

Weldon's Practical Crochet, Second Series, ca1889

I made 12 washcloths last year.  I also ended the year with a wealth of knowledge about how to reduce the chance for injury, as well as gained a greater appreciation for the craft of crochet.
However, I still hate the back post stitch.



Crochet: No Longer the Ugly Step-Sister

I've always thought Crochet was a beautiful craft worthy of a hell of a lot more respect than what it typically receives.  Unfortunately, it has taken a back seat to it's traditionally more glamorous sister, Knitting.

If fiber arts were a fairy tale, then crochet would be Cinderella.  For decades, crochet was kept close to the cinders, forced to do all the housework, what with doilies, washcloths, lace edgings, and bedspreads. Occasionally, our sensible craft was allowed out, moving beyond the house to garments.  But rarely was she invited to the ball.  But, times have changed.  Cindy Crochet isn't waiting to be invited to the ball, although she is getting more invitations.

What is old is new again
Take a look at what new old techniques have done for traditional home crafts.    Tunisian crochet has transformed washcloths and afghans and now lace shawls.  Kim Guzman is quite the whiz with the 16 inch hook.  GeGe Crochet's Super Mario Brothers Super Blanket (above) is an amazing piece of work, at approximately 5 ' by 9'.  Can you believe the detail?

"Young Man, are you sure you are trying it on the right foot?"
Crochet has left the comfort of utilitarian household goods and taken her act on the road.  First, the socks.  Socks are coming out of the woodwork much in the same way that the forest animals reached out to Cinderella.  Check out these Troubadur Socks by Danielle Kassner (pattern published in Interweave Crochet Spring 2008).   Crochet also is great for elaborate cuffs.  Just be warned -- go for the fingering weight yarn -- DK and sport weight is more appropriate for crocheted socks for boots.


Great sweaters accentuate the wearer's body.  Gone are the days of stiff knotted fabric better suited for washcloths and afghans.  Julia Vaconsin has applied her knowledge of yarn and drape gained from her knitting to her crochet, creating beautiful garments like this Butterscotch cardigan.  Julia's published designs can be found on her blog which is written in both English and French.

A dream is a wish your heart makes
Those of us who have toiled for so long at our craft, who have faithfully dreamt of being welcome at the fiber artists ball, are happy to see others appreciate crochet for what it is and what it can be.  There are no limits (well just a few waiting for someone to work out the kinks).  The best news is that the various crochet magazines are starting to recognize that for the craft to attract new devotees, they must
provide updated, contemporary patterns that use all weights and types of yarns. 

Let's not wait for our Fairy Godmother to wave her magic wand.  Climb aboard and get designing.

Wyld Ryd

Almost every Saturday, I volunteer at a genealogy library. Volunteering means hanging with my other crochet buddy, Meredith, who always inspires me to think outside the box when it comes to crochet and knitting. We discuss our current projects, new yarn finds, our families, our ancestors. It is, after all, a genealogy library and we are there to help patrons with their often elusive family searches.

Last Saturday, on my way to my "volunteer" (a genealogy library but my girls have always called it going to the volunteer), I pulled up behind a black Lexus sporting license plates that read "WYLD RYD." I thought, what a great title for a blog, but gave it up because cars and crochet don't mix, right!?.

I had brought my ball winder with me to wind a few skeins of yarn in preparation for some lace projects I am getting underway. Holiday gift giving and all that. Note to Vern and Con: yes, you each will be getting a lace shawl. I don't own a yarn swift so I thought I would take advantage of the highback chairs at the center to serve as an extra pair of hands. First up was a skein of KnitPicks Bare Peruvian Highland Wool fingering weight. Gonna use this for StitchStud's Peacock Track Mystery Crochet-A-Long. I plan to dye it in peacock blues and greens. Next up, Martha's Vineyard Fiber Farm's Sock Weight, perfect for an oversized scarf. Although the chairs were a tad bit narrow to hold the yarns with any real tension, the skeins rolled off nicely as I wound them into balls. Then came Araucania's Lonco Multy. Some of you already are aware of my love-hate relationship with this yarn. I've been avoiding working on a second Bird of Paradise Shawl because of the hours spent unraveling this tough little cotton yarn.

Hoping to avoid any opportunity for a mishap, I grabbed the leather office chair. Its back is wider so it should hold the yarn better. As I cautiously started to unwind the skein, the chair shifted, revolving slowly like a yarn swift. I pushed it along and the yarn came off with little hesitation. I held my breath. The chair jerked to a stop as the yarn snagged. I cursed the yarn and wondered why I even bothered. In frustration, I gave the yarn a little downward tug, surprisingly freeing the yarn. I nudged the chair, smooth sailing for a few yards. Another snag, another damn, another tug. I spun the chair, faster. Another snag, another tug, finally, freedom. Soon, the chair was turning like a kid spinning on a merry-go-round. Patrons walking into to the library stopped short, fascinated by the spinning chair as yarn was pulled off and formed into a little ball. Finally, the last length of yarn left my hand, completing the new yarn ball. I reached out, stopped the chair, and took a deep breath -- I had been holding my breath somewhat. What took 13 hours to wind the first skein, only took 45 minutes for this ball. Cue the chorus of angels. I was in yarn heaven.

Lesson learned? Yarn can be quite temperamental. Some can be quite easy going, allowing you to wind it up with a child's helpful arms. Others need a swift kick in the @#$ and can only be controlled by the unyeilding arms of a yarn swift. Although I know that the unusual way the Araucania Lonco Multy was put up into a skein had a lot to do with my earlier problems, I realize that I had unwittingly created more twists and turns as I tried to "figure out" each and every snag by untwisting every perceived twist, only to twist it upon itself even more. Human nature being what it is, we try to outwit such yarn and think ahead of a snag, a twist, a perceived tangle. But under the constraint of a yarn swift, you are forced to let the swift and the yarn work together. Your hand just goes along for the ride.

So, if you need an extra pair hands and no yarn swift is handy, go to work and give that office chair a wyld ryd.

P.S. Get yourself some Araucania Lonco Multy but don't forget the swift.

Not Your Granny's Crochet

As I embark on my journey from an intermediate crocheter to one with more advanced skills, I have been searching for whatever information I can absorb that will help me create the kind of crochet fabric that is supple, drapes well, and refutes the commonly held perception that crochet is all about the granny square (no insult intended to granny squares).

My journey is to produce the handmade, not the homemade, which is why I love the designs of Julia Vaconsin, a German crochet designer living in France. Her work epitomizes the beauty that is crochet. Take for example, her Malabrigo top published in the Spring 2009 issue of Interweave Crochet. Can you believe that ribbing is crocheted?! Check out this crocheted Fair Isle sweater. Sweet! And these delicate hand warmers -- not clunky at all.

Although my love lies first with crochet (I do knit a bit), lessons can be found even among the knitters. Take for example, TechKnitter from Wisconsin, whose blog is dedicated to retrieving "25 years of knitting tricks want out of my mind, and into yours." Her quicktips are full of gems for any fiber artist (want to get rid of the fishy smell of silk? Read this post). Her well-written discourses on negative/positive ease, among a host of topics, stand as testaments to the knowlege of this woman. Here is a link to an alphabetical list of her posts.

So I plan to keep on learning. Wish me luck in the journey. For links to other inspirational and educational sites, check out the lists to the right.