When Crochet is Not My Friend

ScannedImageIt almost never fails, this time of year brings out the anxiety in me. It feels like all the deadlines of life accumulate at this junction, and unfortunately crochet can lead to more problems than solutions.

This might sound odd. How can crochet be any kind of problem? Well for me it boils down to multi-tasking. Crochet is not a very multi-tasking friendly medium, it helps to relax and express creativity, and it even helps me not to reach for every piece of chocolate at every moment of the day (as my hands are busy working and cannot readily reach them). Yet when it comes to dealing with autumn crochet can be too much of my distraction.

DSCF0561A prime example of this occurred yesterday. I was planning on having a blog post sharing some of my fall happenings, like making quince and grape jelly, apple butter, and maybe even fresh homemade apple pie. I was excited about getting things done yesterday, and eagerly got into my juggle of everything that I could attempt to accomplish. I should mention here that I do live on a small farm, and this time of year is when the majority of my fruits need to be harvested, and after they are harvested I need to do something with them. Over the years I have realized that my harvest is completely different from year to year; some years I have a bounty of pears, others it maybe figs or walnuts, this year it is apples and zinfandel grapes.  That does not mean that I do not receive any of the other fruits, it just means that the crop of those mentioned was greater in size then the rest and larger than normal.

MP900384696So, as I began juicing the grapes for jelly, I also began cutting and cooking quince to create its jelly. As I was waiting for the quince to simmer and slowly break down and release their flavor and pectin to the water, I would work on a crochet project; getting up from my hook to check my cooking pot. This went on for a while. Then it happens, as it all too frequently does, time gets away from me. The fruit began to burn on the bottom of the pot, and add a not so very nice flavor to my jelly, all while I am creating.

My hook can sometimes be my downfall, it can be all to consuming and allow me to become lost in thought all too easily. So now that I have thrown out one batch of quince jelly, and need to work myself up into making a second, and then find a way to work up my stitches without having then completely distracting me.

Welcome the Designs for Fall

ScannedImageMy secret confession….time has completely gotten away from me. Okay, that is probably not a secret, and I am sure that I am not alone. However in the drought stricken California it has brought fall on a little earlier then expected; I am already harvesting peaches from my little trees, my neighbors are already harvesting grapes to begin the “crush” and create wine, none of this usually ever happens before September, so I am probably thinking it is later in the year then it is.

Autumn Leaves Placemat_CW2015OctI am pulling out the dehydrator and beginning to get my canning supplies together to put up fruit from this early season. My little farm is awaiting new arrivals as I have a broody chicken, a hen that is sitting on eggs, and I should soon be seeing new little chicks. However, even with all this rural lifestyle events I have some fun things happening in crochet.

Since autumn us so prevalent on my mind lately I am happy to share the release one of my latest designs in Crochet World Magazine. The October 2015 issue features my Autumn Leaves Place Mat. This place mat is created in utilizing 5 join as you go motifs, which are shaped to resemble leaves, created in Cotton Classic Lite from Tahki Yarns. I find that I use place mats in my home more then I would have thought; this is mostly due to the fact that I actually picked out and purchased my dining room table, but the wood is a little softer than I realized and is can scratch and mar without much effort. So this place mat is just big enough to fit a plate and silverware while adding a fun and festive feel to my meal table. Even though the design is worked in fall colors, I think a nice gold or orange would be nice, even a striking brown, but I could also reinvent this design for spring and work some up in beautiful shade of green.

Crochet World_Oct2015I hope that winter does not delve in to quickly (although I wouldn’t mind some rain), so that I can savor a little of this time of change.

Thoughts on Some Fall Designs

ScannedImageHard to believe that Autumn weather is almost here, but luckily Crochet World Magazine’s October 2013 issue is out, and it has some fun ideas that help with this seasonal change.

I have two designs featured in this issue so I might be a little biased.

Birds of a Feather

Photo courtesy of Annie’s

The Birds of a Feather Table Runner reminds me of the country farm; okay, so I am still on a country farm, but my rooster is noisier than the ones on the runner.  I enjoyed doing this filet work; to me it has a little old world charm but an updated feel with the harvest colored thread. I can honestly say that this design makes me think of fall, probably because the thought of the “farm” brings about memories of bringing in the crops, and a rooster definitely makes me think of farm.

 

 

Tactical Squares Throw

Photo courtesy of Annie’s

The Tactical Squares Afghan is one I really think my son will enjoy. Usually you see a lot of open work designs, and it makes it difficult to find something that can have a masculine feel, but I think this one can accomplish that. Masculine to me has a more full texture then lacy work feel, it could be cables or such, something with a raised stitch to it, it is also simple and bold. My son always gets a little jealous, since it is so much easier for me to work something up for his sister, something lacy, a little skirt, and he feels a little left out. I think that this afghan though might make up for it a bit.

So there are some of my thoughts of how a couple of more of my designs made their way from my mind to my fingers.