Shaman Basket

Well, I have not posted in a long while, but I have not been idle.  I have recently joined an Art Quilt Group (The Out of the Box Fiber Artists) associated with the Upper Valley Art League in Mission Texas.  Great group of ladies and they challenge me (which is what I was looking for).  They recently had a Fiber Art Show and I hung 2 wall hangings and a Tunisian Crochet basket.  The basket sold (I am sooo excited).  The basket was Tunisian crochet in the round with a variety of novelty yarns, charms and wild turkey feathers from New Jersey turkeys.  I riffed off of the infinity scarves I have been making so there is no pattern, but I am going to try to make another one.  I am also going to try to resume posting...we will see.



Shaman Basket 2016 (photo by Tara Kalima)

DAM Quilts and button coats

There was just to much going on at the Denver Art Museum (DAM) for one post.  While I was there for the barkcloth talk there were also quilts displayed in the textile section and button blankets/coats in the Northwest section.  The new policy is that it is OK to take pictures without a flash, but I recommend asking.  I was not allowed to take pictures of the American Masters exhibit.  The quilts are beautifully displayed with lots of room around them so that you will not be distracted by to many items.  The lighting is soft to minimize exposure of the fabric and sometimes I could not get out of the way of shadows, so I apologize in advance for any shadows in the photos.

Cigarette "Flannels"

There were several "recycled" quilts including a quilt made of "tobacco flannels" (which came in the packages with the cigarettes and there was also a quilt that made of labels, originally the quilter was trying to mend a beloved quilt, but she ended up adding so many labels that she covered both sides with them.

Labels, labels,labels

Banded clothing

One of my favorites was a "banded" quilt, where the design is concentric square bands that was displayed next to a Navajo shirt to show a different use of banding

"Banded" Quilt

There was also a chintz quilt, obviously not a "recycle" quilt but rather one that speaks of a certain level of wealth and expertise, with a beautiful trim.

Chintz Quilt

Trim on Chintz quilt

In addition there is a little room with a comfy sofa and items to peruse.  They did have a little bit of everything and here is the crochet example.

Lace Display

Great Quote

On my way to the Textile area I had to breeze through the Northwest display so I went back after my assigned time for the American Masters.  the had several wonderful pieces of Indian art but I loved these button coat/blankets the best. 

This one had shell buttons

They are a combination of button and appliqué and they were just stunning.  They reminded me of "Button Coats" that I had seen in an article about people from a specific part of London, who decorated their clothing with buttons.

I may just have to do this on my old denim jacket!

Yarnorama

This time it is weaving looms on the right and fiber, fiber, fiber on the left.  Our last stop on our side trip from McCade was the Yarnorama in Paige Texas.  I was astounded at the sophisticated selection of yarns and fibers.  I am not sure what I expected when I climbed up on the porch steps of Yarnorama but it was not nearly as fabulous as what I found.  Susan, the owner was quiet but helpful, and when I asked about a linen yarn she went out and got her latest project which was a scarf using that fiber.  I am in love with this store, I just wish we had one down in the Rio Grande Valley.  When I mentioned that spinning with a drop spindle was on my "bucket" list she told me that on the first Saturday of the month they have a sort of spin-in, where people bring their spinning wheels and drop spindles and just have a spinning good time.  This is not a formal class but help is available.  I wandered about fondling yarn for a while and then I found the bargain shelves (sorry I cannot help it) where I picked up three spools of chenille yarn.  It is for weaving but neither Susan nor I could find any reason not to crochet with it.  She did suggest that I crochet tightly, wet it (it will feel terrible she warned) and then put it in the dryer and it will be wonderful.  OK more swatching in my future, I am learning to love swatching, I just use them to make facecloths or pouches.  I did also get some lovely apricot/champagne Shibui linen and matching beads which may become an amulet bag, or it may not, we will just have to see. If we come back this way this is definitely a stop!

Crochet Challenge Week 12 Best Tip

The best crochet tip I every got was to change colors by using the change color in the last two loops of the stitch.  This tips has been posted frequently but I saw it about two years ago, I just don't remember where.  switching colors before you finish off the last two loops of a stitch makes for a nice neat color change.  I have been looking at tapestry crochet again.  I played around with it just a bit last fall, (tiny bag in three colors) but I would like to do some more work with it.  I was not doing the color change quite right.  Bags are fun because you keep working in the round.  Flat pieces are harder, for a return row I will either have to learn to crochet with my left hand or learn to crochet "backwards".  I can appreciate how hard it must be for my daughter, who is a lefty, to work in a "righty" world when I try to crochet left handed, that will take a LOT of practice.

Tapestry bag with red/yellow color change

Crochet Challenge Week 11: What kind of crocheter are you?

What kind of crocheter am I?  I did touch on that last week, I definitely alter patterns.  I might just like a stitch that was used in a pattern so I will appropriate it for something else.  The design might be to big or to small so I need to change it.  Usually I have to adapt because I am making something using my stash and it does not quite match the thread being used in the pattern. 



My Crochet "Doodle"

What I love the most is working with a technique or a stitch until I am comfortable with it and then
going off and designing something all on my own.  I love that feeling when my brain starts whirling and saying "what if...what if...what if...". 

Somehow though this has not translated into "freeform" crochet.  I do have plans to work on that technique.  For now the closest I come is what my friend Robin calls my "doodle" as in the picture above.  When I am stuck I pull this out and just start to crochet.  It isn't anything, so anything goes, next I am going to play with some color I highly recommend it as a relaxing exercise in shape.  I am using cotton crochet thread size 10 and a size 10 hook but it can be adapted to any weight.  Don't think useful as in hat, scarf, toy, etc, just let go and start to crochet.  You can see I was sort of rigid in the beginning.  I had been crocheting beaded ropes and it took a while to get out of that mode, plus I kept making mistakes while making the tubing so I went with the "what if I let the mistakes go into the design"? That is when I really started to enjoy it.  Try it you might like it too.

More Amulet bags

I had previously posted some bags that still needed work and I am happy to say I have finished them.  I am still on the "finish your WIP's" kick from the 52 week Crochet challenge.  It is a good kick to be on as I tend to start projects when I have an idea and then let them languish because I have another good idea that has to get started RIGHT NOW!  WIP's are great when the inspiration bug does not bite though, since they are mostly designed I can do the finish up work while waiting for inspiration to strike.  The first bag is the "sun" bag.  My first try at using beads to cabochon the center stone.  I tried to get a close up of the glass piece in the center so that you can see the "sun spiral".  This one was one of the pieces that whispered a story and it is here. I tried to get a close up so that you could see the center of the glass insert.  The trim has amber, and Peruvian opal beads and tiny teardrops.  The trim design is from The Beaded Edge, as is the strap.












The next bag is one of my earth bags.  The purple trim is from the book The Beaded Edge and it is called Pansies, as it is supposed to look like the little flowers.  I used a vintage button for the closure.

The last bag is one of the Interlocking Crochet patterns.  It is reversible and I put vintage buttons on both sides so that it could be worn with either pattern.  I love using old buttons.  I have a few that are really nice Bakelite buttons that need some really special designs, still working on that.
























I did do one project as a distraction when I got tired of working on bags, I crocheted another rock, this time using wire.  In the past I have not enjoyed using wire, it was to tough on my hands, but I found some 36 gauge and that is much easier to work up.  The beads were added by doing the top section first.  This let me work with the beads on the "wrong" side and then use that as the "right side for the top.  Once I put the rock into the net, I continued and closed up the back (no beads).  Not my favorite but I would try it again, I just need to get some more wire.  It is a different technique and not as forgiving as thread.  When it kinks, it stays kinked, even in the light gauge I used.

Chevron Cowl CAL

I started the chevron cowl crochet a-long.  The cowl is a design by Sheryl Thies in Tunisian crochet. I have several of her books and I like her designs, besides, it is a Tunisian crochet along - they do not appear very often.
The Crochet along is sponsored by Interweave Crochet Me and the location is here the pattern is in a free e-book that you can download at the Chevron Cowl Crochet along site.  I am using Filatura  Lanarata's Fashion Toes.  I used it for a vest and it is a joy to work with.  I did my swatch (which also gives you an idea of what the pattern will be like), started the scarf and I have 3 rows done.  So I am in line with the projected dates.  It is a nice pattern - and I am not that fond of the ripple stich

Crochet Challenge Weeks 9 & 10

I am going to combine blogging about this weeks challenge with last weeks challenge.  Last week we were supposed to organize or patterns, or start to organize or patterns, or THINK about organizing our patterns.  The patterns I have on my computer are pretty well organized by craft and then by type of project (bags, scarves, doll clothes, etc.); however, I do have a few printed patterns, magazines, patterns saved on All Free Crochet (it is so easy to click Save Pattern) and oh yes....my backup drive which has the things I had stored on my old work computers. 

This is not a small job.  My current computer, as I said, is in pretty good shape.  The rest is not.  I have not touched any magazines, I might think about getting rid of them and we can't have that.  I did work on my back up drive and reorganized some patterns I had stored there.  I also went down a rabbit hole and started deleting things I did not need (like training notes from 2004) so while I got a lot done it was not all crocheted related.  I do have to thank Julie for organizing this challenge, otherwise I may not have found those old files at all.  I am still working on finishing more works in progress.  We are going to go to California and I have to have some projects to show my friend Robin so she does not think I was just laying around all winter while she was studying and writing term papers.

My first project is lost in the shadowy memories of childhood.  I think it was a really, really loooong chain.  The first project I remember designing was an afghan I made in the 70's.  We had little (read no) money and I needed a Christmas gift for my in-laws. Someone had given me a stash of acrylic yarn in a variety of colors with a lot of grey skeins.  So I made an afghan of flower patterns in all of the colors and linked them together with the grey.  I don't have a picture of this but it did turn out pretty well, there were a lot of shades of pink as I recall and it went well with the grey.  What I remember most was my mother-in-law, Franny's, comments.  She kept saying that she had never seen anything like it anywhere.  Now Franny was a really good knitter but she did follow the patterns, I had to explain that I "made it up" and did not have a pattern.  I think she liked it, I am pretty sure that "I have never seen anything like it" was not code for "oh my goodness how ugly is this", Franny just could not comprehend making something up and not following a pattern.  Well things have not changed all that much.  I have not met a pattern that I did not think about altering (sometimes just to change the yarn) somehow.  The only difference is that NOW I say "I designed this with you in mind" instead of "I made it up" - much better don't you think?

Today is Hump day and I've been "Hookin".  In fact I am combining "Hookin on Hump Day" and the 52 week crochet challenge.  this week's challenge is to take a work(s) in progress and either finish it, work on it or rip it.  Since I am the queen of WIPs I have plenty to choose from.  I have finished a drawstring bag that I have been working on.  You may have seen some of my posts on Interlocking crochet.  This purse is Interlocking crochet in the round.  It is my first one, no pattern yet but I really like it.  I had two small balls of novelty yarn, not enough for anything big but plenty for this design. I started with a standard circle increase with one yarn.  Then, using both the red and the gold I built up the sides.  I finished off the top working the two colors together and then added the casing and shell border in the gold.  The drawstrings are just a chain stitch.

Interlocking Crochet in the round

These are my other WIPs that I am hoping to finish this week.  I have been making amulet bags and these two are my own designs.  The gold one has a clear glass "worry stone" with a spiral sun design on it which is encased in beaded crochet and then the flat background is worked around it, like a beaded cabochon.  The long oval bag will be hung from a small, sort of dumbbell shaped bead that I got at a trunk show in California several years back.  Supposedly it is from Afghanistan.  Both need to be assembled and have straps added.  The back of the gold bag needs to be finished.  The gold bag also will have a fringe.  I promise to post the finished bags when they are done.

Thumb down fingerless mitts

I love fingerless mitts, especially the ones with a thumb gusset.  So when my sister (the knitter) showed me a pattern for knitted mitts that started at the THUMB! I had to figure out a way to crochet them. For you knitters, the original knitter is http://knitting-and-so-on.blogspot.com/ but I do not see the original circular mitts, however, her other patterns are glorious.  Anyway, I just jumped in and started on my own. 



Starting at the thumb and increasing the circle

 

I started with a ribbing on the thumb, her pattern called for ribbing all of the way down the thumb, I only did 3 rows (just because) and then increasing evenly to enlarge the circle.  I used a standard circle increase.  Keep going on the circle until it fits around the palm of your hand.  Then I joined the outer edges and used short rows to fill in by the pinky and the wrist.  I finished off with ribbing at the top and the wrist.  They look different because I played around with different methods of short rows and decreasing..

I used sock yarn (Lang Jawoll Magic superwash) and a size G hook.  When I flew to NJ my sister picked me up at the airport and we went to a yarn shop (of course, yeeaaahhh) that she likes, The Stitching Bee in NJ a very nice shop with a wonderful sale bin.  I am working on a pattern for the mitts.

Here it is on my hand, I may make the thumb a little shorter but they are nice and toasty and I love the way they showcase the yarn.

 

 



Interlocking Crochet by pcooper

Another process I have been working with is Interlocking Crochet.  The stitch patterns are in Interlocking Crochet by Tanis Galik.  The book has a lot of stitch patterns and some projects to use those stitches.  There are a few mistakes in the version I have, but the project directions seem to be accurate.  The process provides a dense complex fabric.  I have used the process with several different weights of yarn and thread and I love the results.

A small "spirit bag" using #10 cotton crochet thread.  Some of the stitches display different designs on opposite sides of the fabric.  You can see that above where the flap is open to show the alternate pattern.  The strap is a crocheted beaded strap with size 11 beads

Using #10 light and dark gold metallic crochet thread, again the designs are different on opposite sides of the fabric. 

The project in the book is similar but it uses nylon cording and the finished project is bigger.  These bags are about 3 inches square.  I still need to work on a strap for this one.

This is a cowl crocheted with a combination of dark brown lace weight mohair and camel colored alpaca.  I love the combination it is very light but very warm.  I wore it in NJ this March (we had some 20 degree days) and I was toasty.  This pattern has the same design on both sides.  I plan to do more projects with this technique and I am currently working on a drawstring bag done "in the round" with this technique.  No directions, I am making this up as I go along.  I will post it when it is finished.

Overlay Crochet

Hi, Pat checking in here.  Nice post on blocking Marie, I have to block some pieces and yours are an inspiration.  I have been playing around with what is, for me, a new crochet technique, Overlay crochet and making some pieces from Crochet overlay jewelry by Melody MacDuffee.  She works with a size 14 needle and sewing thread, way to small for me so I moved up to a size 10 steel hook and size 8 cotton crochet thread.  The pieces are very dense and textural and I love the process.

 

Above is a little purse, the strap is all the colors crocheted together.  The fringe is from the Beaded Edge by Midori Nishida with coral drops. The closure is a vintage flower and a loop. It is about 3 1/2 inches square without the fringe.

 

 This is the front and back of a little bag that is about 3 inches square.  It too has a crocheted beaded fringe (with sandstone), vintage buttons and a small wrist strap.  The wrist strap is beaded and I am working on a longer necklace length so that the straps can be interchangeable. The back is just a square design with no overlay.

 



 

 

This is my favorite so far, it is the back and front of a potential bag that has not yet been assembled.  I have some great orange beads and grey beads that I am hoping to use, it reminds me of fire.

Melody also does cabochons, I adapted the idea to encompass rocks.  these were a couple I had picked up in Terra Lingua TX (outside of Big Bend).  The samples below I bought while shopping with a friend and browsing in a rock shop.

Overlay is fun but I can only do it for a few hours in the morning while I am awake and alert enough to figure it out.  Now I have to work on creating some of my own patterns, I want to do some mandalas. 

 

Doll Dresses

I crocheted doll dress for my cousin's 2 girls.  I found the pattern at http://www.abc-knitting-patterns.com/1029.html - they have lots of knitted and crocheted patterns.  One has pink trim and the other has purple trim.  After I made the first one I found that the dress was difficult to get on the doll so I changed the pattern a bit.  Instead of crocheting in the round when the skirt starts, I crocheted in rows for about 8 or 9 rows and then started crocheting in the round - this made it much easier to get on the doll.  Also next time I will use fewer buttons on the back.  Doll clothes are such fun (and the dolls don't outgrow the clothes before I finish them).

What fun, I started sewing and crocheting with doll clothes and here I am full circle again.  Cannot wait to create some of my own designs.  BTW - the girls loved them, we may have new crocheters coming along!

Free Ribbon Cuff Pattern

This cuff pattern is for those of you who might be interested in the cuff but do not want to crochet with beads. It uses fillet crochet and ribbon woven in. The ribbon can be changed out to match an outfit, a mood or a holiday. The pattern is for the 1.25 inch cuff with two rows of Ribbon

I was looking for green ribbon for St Patrick's day

 



 Blue and brown ribbon from Hobby Lobby

 

Thread = Lizbeth size 10 color #655 for the blue, Cebelia for the cream. The pattern stays the same as both are size 10 but for some reason I ended up with 20 fillet "windows in the blue and 22 in the cream Cebelia. The pattern starts and finishes like the beaded cuff but this works up faster. I find that a ch 1 will allow 1/8 to 1/4 inch of ribbon.

 Original Pattern - Pat Cooper Creations February 2013
Copyright February 2013

Please use this pattern to create bracelets for yourself and for gifts.  Please do not sell the pattern or items made form the pattern.  If you post this somewhere else please refer back to this blog.  Thank you for understanding.

Supplies

size 10 (1.3mm) crochet hook

one ball size 10 cotton thread your favorite color

one brass cuff blank 1.25 inches wide (I get mine from http://www.beadwork-supplies.com/braceletblanks.html )

1/2 yard of ribbon (3/8 inch) to coordinate with thread
small snaps
needle and thread
tapestry needle
scissors
safety pin

 

Foundation row Chain 11

Row 1: scblo in 2^nd chain from hook, sclblo in next 8 stitches, 3 sc in 10^th stitch; scblo in next 8 stitches, 2 scblo in last stitch (22 stitches) join w slip stitch to first chain stitch place a marker on this stitch), chain 1

Row 2: sc in 2^nd chain from hook (first stitch on previous row), sc in next 9 stitches, 2 sc in last stitch, sc in next 9 stitches, 2 sc in last stitch (24 stitches) join to ch1 with sl st, chain 3 (move marker to top stitch)

Row 3: dc in first stitch, dc around. Join with sl st to top of ch 3, ch 3 (move marker to top of ch 3) (24 double chain stitches)

Row4: dc in 1^st stitch, *ch 3, skip 3 stitches dc in next 2 st* repeat once from * dc in remaining st around, join to top of ch 3 with sl st, chain 3

You will have 2 "windows" and the crocheted back.

Rows 5 - 22: Repeat row 4. Slip on to brass cuff to measure, you may need to add a few more rows until bracelet is about ½ inch from end of form.  I prefer an even number of rows as this lets me put the turning row underneath the stitches but if you want it outside the stitches just use an odd number of rows.

End  (I started with row 1 of the end as you will decide how many rows of "windows" you want).

 

Row 1; Slide the cover off of the blank, Chain 3, dc around in each dc and chain stitch join with sl st to top of ch 3, ch 1

Row 2: sc crochet the next two stitches together (sc2tog) for a decrease, sc in the next 8 stitches, sc 2 stitches together (sc2tog), sc in next stitch (this should be the edge stitch), sc2tog, sc in next 10 st, sc2tog.  Join to ch1 with sl st stitch at beginning edge.  Ch 1

Row 3:  Sc in first stitch, continue to sc around to beginning, join to first ch 1 with slst, ch 1,

Row 4; sc in 1^st stitch of row, sc in next 11 to end, ch 1 turn

Row 5; repeat row 4

Row 6: sc2tog at beginning and end of row, ch1 turn

Row 7: sc across ch1 turn

Row 8-10: repeat row 5 until the flap is long enough to fold over the end of the blank with room to add the snaps. You want a snug fit but not too much stretching of the crochet

Finishing

Cut the thread leaving about 10” of thread. Draw the thread through the loop to fasten the stitches. Thread a tapestry needle with the end thread, and weave the thread through the stitches to fasten, cut the remaining thread. Weave the thread at the beginning end into the stitches

Cut 3/8 inch ribbon 13 inches long, weave the ribbon over and under the fillet bars starting from the inside of the cuff.  slide the cover onto the brass form, tuck the ribbon ends over the edge of the form and into the back of the bracelet.

Mark where you want the snaps to be with a pencil or pins. Using matching sewing thread, sew one half of a snap pair to the inside of the flap, sew the other half of the snap to the back of the cover making sure to position the snaps ends in place so that they will meet when the flap is folded over the end of the blank.

I am fine with having the ribbon ends free to make it easy to change colors; however, if you want more stability, fold over the ends twice so there are no frayed endings.  sew one side of a snap to the TOP of the ribbon, sew the other end to the inside back of the cuff, when snapped it will hold the ribbon in place (see picture below)

I have also made one with a chain one space for use with 1/4 inch ribbon.  I also tried putting charms on the ends and then moved them to the center, I did not use jump rings and I plan to play around with this idea using beads.  I may have to snap the ribbon if the beads get to heavy.

 

This is my Valentine's Day bracelet!