Category Archives: website

A Positive to Social Media?

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ScannedImageOkay so this is a little different topic for me than usual, but I was doing some internal reflection and realized that social media has changed me. Sure information is at your finger tips (the reliability of that information should always be questioned, but that is a different matter), communication is seemingly easier than ever. But why is it then that I do not actually speak to old friends as often? I think this question has been bridged by most people at some time, but that is not the change I found most in myself.

The change I noticed is that I am actually somewhat nicer. For people that have met me in person, they realize that I have a quick wit and play on words (okay, most would call it being a smarty pants or other phrases that have other meanings as a donkey). But using social media, I know that 1 statement can be taken 6 different ways by 5 of my friends, so I tone it back and actually think of my words before I type them. (Really I do, although if there was a sarcasm font, I would probably find this quite helpful).Wireless Computer Mouse

So is this really causing a change? Or is this just being politically correct? Well I think it has actually been a change for me. Causing me to actually think about what I say before I say it (this does not always occur in person, but it is actually much more toned back in general, but get me around old influences and there is no promises of anything).

MP900405386Making this reflection about myself, caused me to realize there are at least three different types of people on social media, those that say nothing but watch what is going on around them, those that say whatever is on their mind regardless of how it might be taken (some I actually think are attempting to upset people) and those that might be thinking of their words. Granted that is generalizing quite a bit, but it has been where my thoughts have taken me.

Some may not feel that there are any redeeming qualities in social media, but I think at least for me, it has helped to put my words in prospective and maybe even taken the edge off them.

Viewing the Tone, Matching Your Yarn to Your Pattern

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ScannedImageIt has happened to many times; a marriage between a beautiful yarn and a wonderful pattern does end up as spectacular as expected. What could it be? Simply put not all patterns are designed the same. Sometimes you have a pattern that highlights the yarn, other times you have a yarn that highlights a pattern.

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Same stitches, different tones and colors, notice the difference throughout each swatch, can you see the basket weave? Can you see the small cables next to the filet?

This usually comes into play with multi-tonal yarns and textured or lace patterns. The yarn draws so much attention to itself that is can lead the eye away from all the skill and technique you have put into cables, and popcorns, and filet work.  The texture gets washed out and only the color remains.

This doesn’t mean that you cannot use multi-tonal yarns in intricate designs, but it is finding the correct match. Usually multi-tonal yarns need large designs, or large blocks of consistent stitches. By this I mean that they need solid spaces to let the color play do what it wants to, whereas a solid tone yarn can easily highlight more detailed textured stitches, such as posts and filets. Since the tone is consistent the eye is not lead away.

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Review the same swatches with out the color and simply see the tone, do you notice a difference?

You are probably wondering why I’m using “tonal” instead of “color”; this is because more of the cause of effect is due to the tone not the color. The tone is what would be represented if the values were represented as black and white photographs. When looking at the tones of a color, green and red have the same value as a medium gray and yarns using these as a multi-tone will not be as eye distracting as a yarn using yellow and red. Since the yellow would generate a brighter value on the gray scale then red, it will draw the eye differently, and catch its attention. Give it a try with yarn in your stash, simply take a picture and convert it to black and white and see which yarn grabs your attention. Is it the same as the yarn when viewed in color?

The colors will also be varied in the grayscale values dependent upon the shade of the color, pastels are brighter then rich jewel tones for example, so that plays into the color play as well. The eye for color and value can be learned, it can be recognized. But it does take a conscience effort to find the match between the texture and the color. Keeping this concept in mind when matching your yarn to a project can really help to give you an end item that is the star of the show!

Where the Crocheters Are

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Guests at CGOA Conference Dinner in Indianapolis 2013

ScannedImageI never really think to pull out my camera, so I’m probably an abnormality in this day and age, which is why I didn’t get more photos of all the wonderful things I saw. Last week I was in Indianapolis last week attending the Crochet Guild of America (CGOA) Summer Chain Link Conference (sometime known as the Knit and Crochet Show), and had a wonderful time. There are always so many inspiring people that have a love for crochet (most of which are not published designers, or national teachers, not that those aren’t inspiring as well).

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Margaret Hubert and Nancy Smith- 2 great women that inspire crochet

If you have never attended a national conference, I recommend that you at least investigate going someday. If you are like me, you have looked at the cost and asked yourself, “Really, I think I could learn that from a book/video, so why spend that, to go there?” A very valid question, but what you get from the conference cannot really be measured in dollars. Granted attending a conference has launched my crochet career, but even if it hadn’t I would probably still attend, as the camaraderie of fellow crocheters is enough to encourage you to attempt new things and improve your hobby/craft in ways you could never anticipate. There is nothing like walking through a hotel lobby and seeing groups of crocheters seated in various clusters chatting and stitching away. I can’t think of anywhere I’ve felt so at home.

Some are fortunate enough to have this experience in their local community through crochet guilds or stitch clubs, at least at meetings and events that they sponsor. The conference is just a really large version of this, not to mention the teachers have many years of teaching experience and years of expertise, they have forgotten more then I will ever learn.

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Fun Night at the Conference in Indianapolis 2013, Show & Share

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My first pattern signing!! Thanks to Crochetville.com, Amy Shelton, Tammy Hildebrand, and Ellen Gormley for all the support.

Well I could probably go on for a while about how much I love these conferences, but if you are interested in experiencing one for yourself, join me October 2-6 in Concord (just outside Charlotte), NC (click here for more information), or if you would like to create a crochet community in your town, investigate the support the CGOA can provide in helping you.

Appreciate the Thread

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ScannedImageWhen most people think of crochet, they think of granny squares or doilies. The same techniques may be used in both, but there is a different skill set for each.  From reviewing most of my crochet work, I usually play with yarn, and thus take it for granted, but picking up some thread can easily bring all the technique needed to crochet into focus for me.

It is not that yarn and thread crochet have that many differences, they use a hook, they have the same stitches and they are creating a series of knots, but where the differences come into play is the execution of those stitches. In yarn I automatically adjust my tension dependent upon the yarn weight and fiber type (some silky yarns tend to slide a bit), but nothing in the yarn realm can prepare me for tensioning thread.

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Some beautiful thread work by my friend Phyllis Nabakowski

Tension can definitely affect the appearance of your work, more than first realized. Some tensions are too tight and stitches are tight and compact compared to a tension that is too loose, resulting in stitches that appear sloppy. Too tight/loose tension can make it appear that you are using the incorrect hook size, but it doesn’t really improving after you adjust your hook.

I usually keep a fairly loose tension, thus I pull the yarn out of the skein and then begin to crochet, but with thread this is far too loose for me, and I have to weave it through my fingers differently in order to get control of it. I usually don’t wrap yarn around my fingers but weave it between them, thread I wrap around a finger to increase my tension and thus improve my stitches.

Even adjusting for my tension, there is a factor within thread crochet that varies greatly from yarn. Thread is less forgiving. Often in yarn projects mistakes are masked by the yarn, but in thread every aspect of your work is seen. The direction that you pull up you yarn-overs (YO) is even noticeable in thread crochet, so you have to pay attention to your work. It is a medium that I practice in, so that I can have some presentable thread work.

If you haven’t had success with using thread, play with it and see if adjusting your tension and paying attention to your stitches help, and appreciate the work of those that have mastered these skills. Those small dainty stitches are the work of disciplined techniques.

The Touch of Crochet, Reading Stitches

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ScannedImageMany people who believe that they can’t read a pattern, really just have a different learning style. This last pattern reading technique I want to discuss is probably the most difficult for most people to grasp, reading stitches. I don’t mean that is too difficult for people to understand, but it is not the most effective way for most people to read a pattern, but there are some that this is a needed style. It reminds me of playing music by ear; you know the melody and are finding the write notes. This is a tactical way of learning, by using your hands and touch, whereas traditionally written patterns are good for oral learners (reading it our loud and it makes perfect sense), and charts are great for visual learners. This doesn’t mean that you only have one learning style, most of use learn effectively from a combination, it is just that tactical instruction is a little less apparent and some people believe they can’t understand a pattern when really they haven’t given themselves permission to realize that they may understand the craft of crochet in a different way than others.

To begin with you won’t really find these patterns in any book, at least not formally. But close up photos lend to assisting in this style. Often this style is worked by directly copying an already completed project.

To read stitches, you have to recognize what your stitches really look like. If you’re like me, you probably never really look at how your stitches. I plug right along and only notice the special stitches like shells or bobbles, but never really pay a lot of attention to a double or single crochet stitch appearance. But there have been times when I have been presented with some old handmade item and asked if I knew the pattern. (Sometimes the item is not crocheted, so I attempt to decipher the creation manner, such as tatting or bobbin lace most often). To recreate this masterpieces, or for those that learn better from this example, you must know what the stitch looks like a know how to recreate it. So let’s take a look at some common stitches.

First you need to identify the top of the work, this can be a little challenging dependent upon the type of work, and you may need to pull out a hook and yarn to see if you can duplicate what you can to determine direction (but once you recognize various stitches you can easily discern the direction, it may take you a little practice).

Chains are usually obvious, but the slip stitch can be a little difficult to locate and recognize without some practice, (as it doesn’t photograph well for me, I recommend you play with some slip stitches and see how they look for yourself.

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Right Side Single Crochet

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Wrong Side Single Crochet

The Right Side(RS) of a single crochet (sc) row looks like a row of little “v”, while the Wrong Side(WS) look like upside down “v” wearing a flat hat, or maybe even a belt with two little legs.

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Right Side Double Crochet

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Wrong Side Double Crochet

For the RS of a  double crochet (dc), if you are right handed (left will be opposite)you will see two diagonal bars, one beginning in the upper left of the stitch and  continuing to the right  where it reaches the second diagonal bar that continues in the same direction appearing to wrap around to the back of the post. While the WS has one horizontal bar at the top and one diagonal bar from the upper right, just under the horizontal bar, down to the left ending at the middle of post and appearing to go between the base of the stitch (I love the description Vashti Braha uses for this part of the stitch as “feet” since they appear to be like ballet slippers at point).

This style of pattern reading is one that lends itself well to expanding your creative side, as it gives you a better understanding of stitch construction. Even if this is not the easiest method for you to follow or understand I recommend that you work up some sample and really look at you stitches, it is amazing how improving your techniques at this basic level can really improve the overall appearance of your work, not to mention help you greatly when you are approached with the question; “I love the doily my great-great grandmother made, can you show me how to make one like it?”