Such Sweet Hands

The fall issue of Knitscene is headed to your newsstand if it isn’t already there. There isn’t much crochet in it. My scarf and a flaming bowling ball bag by Regina Rioux Gonzalez. There are some lovely knitted sweaters and the photography is nice. Will have to make note to self to nudge them to have more crochet next time!

This is the same little scarf that appeared in my photo-a-day run last March.

There’s certainly more to chat about. It’s been a busy and very social month. Several good friends are moving away this summer, all moving on to new and exciting adventures. There’s a wedding this weekend too. You’ll hear more from me about that, I’m currently enjoying watching the stain of my first ever mehndi deepen and can’t wait to wear my new sari to the beach side ceremony. Lots of pictures on the way!

Look what landed in my mailbox today!

The July/August Issue of Crochet Today includes my pattern for a sweet, quick, and fun to work up stole/capelet, the “Rolling Waves Stole”. For all ya’ll recently entranced by ripple patterns, it’s a fun stitch pattern that flies off the hook once you get the hang.

There was a slight difference of vision in this case, the powers that be at the magazine added some length and a border. That’s how the cookie crumbles and I’m not displeased with the outcome of combining my whim with their needs. Because we don’t get to keep the samples, I still need to finish up my own to wear to a beach side wedding in a few weeks. The one (or two I might whip an extra up in a different color) I make for my own use will be a tad different. I promise to share pictures and input on taking a pattern and changing it up to make it your own.

I also want to note that I really enjoyed working with Moda Dea Fashionista to make this piece. It’s a nice acrylic yarn with an almost chenille sort of texture. Well, chenille-like in the richness of the colors and the look of the texture. Without the worming and chenille weirdness! It works up nice and soft and light with just the right amount of cozy warmth for a light wrap. I bet worked in a tighter gauge it could make a great granny motif bag…

I found the crochet roll stashed in the cube where I’ve been keeping all the yarn a wrangled up for granny square diversions. *Phew* Remind me to tell the story of the time I lost my entire needle and hook stash and how it was returned to me sometime. . . .

Meanwhile, I just learned that Amy Swenson’s new book is out. My little coin purse project “Assembly Required” is a part of the line up, which also includes a sweet toddler jacket by another Amy we know.

The Assembly Required project was the muse for all this button and doodad fun.

Remember the Doughnut Day a few months back? The tamest of the doughnuts and a lace bangle I made are now available in the new issue of Crochet Today for your own doughnut bracelet making pleasure….

These babies are kinda silly, but silly is fun and life needs more of both. Padding your bangles with some crochet takes away that incessant clanging noise and removes any fear that broad arm gestures might land a sturdy bangle in the face of a loved one. Well, if it does land in the face of a loved one via flying off or manic arm gesturing-thwapping in face while armed with said bangle the blow will be cushioned…

I spent most of yesterday working on a breakdown for sock construction that I can use for future foot related projects. I have a stockings design due in November so I figured I’d figure out the approach for the project now while I wait for yarn for other pieces I have in the works.

I’ve never made a finished sock before. I’ve toyed with shaping for the foot here and there, but I hadn’t really figured out how I’d like to use crochet for the foot. Yesterday’s experiments yielded a bunch of notes and a rough outline I can use to approach toe up crocheted socks in the future. I also came upon a nice snug idea for a slipper sock. My feet are cold most of the time and I can’t fall asleep without something on my feet. I’m now imagining some handmade sleeping slipper sock thingamabobs feeling really nice on my circulation challenged toes.

I honestly wasn’t sold on the idea of a crocheted sock being something I would enjoy. My shoes that do call for socks won’t accommodate anything thicker than a fine weave sport sock. I have piles of cotton socks that I love to wear to sleep and around the house, they keep my feet warm and happy in our not so cold weather. I also have to admit that I hadn’t seen a crocheted sock that enticed me to make and wear it. The only way to get past my sock prejudice was to dive in and figure it out for myself.

I’m fully aware that I haven’t reinvented the wheel and I haven’t made a piece of sock eye candy. But, this little slipper thing that came out of yesterday’s experiments feels really nice on my foot. Crochet stitches make for some crunchy, puffy textures that feel so cozy and plush on tired feet. I know I’ll be refining the pattern to make some sleeping slippers.

I used Lana Grossa Elastico, cotton and acrylic with a tad of stretch, with a 3.75 mm hook. This example actually stretched more than I expected, so I’ll be cutting back on the number of rows, it would also need some edging work to smooth the edge and keep the slipper on my foot. And check out the crazy colors for my experiment yarn! So silly.

What are your thoughts on crocheted footwear? Bad memories of acrylic house shoes haunting you? Still as suspicious as I am (though I’m becoming less suspicious) that it’s worth it to make your own socks?

Of course I’m chomping at the bit for cooler, cozier weather myself. But, it’s past time to be working on designs for next spring. I’ve perused bits of the spring fashion week shows, thought about what we are wearing now and what that is likely to grow into next spring. Here is my question, (regardless of what may be in or not) what sort of loose, lightweight crocheted piece might you want to make and wear come springtime?

Edited to add:

Julie’s comment made a very good point that number one would make many of us look pregnant. I totally agree. It could also drown someone my size and make me look shorter than I already am. I’m toying with the shape in my mind though, because I just haven’t seen much done with it in a while ( or simply nothing to fascinate me). The two things mixing together to inspire me with that one are the photo below for the specific shape(forgive me I forget which designer..eep) and another friend Julie’s work for the general aesthetic and feel. In both cases the fabric is a fine weave with incredible drape. I can’t help it, when I see lines and shapes I like my mind sets to fitting my crochet style to the lines. In this instance I like the width of fabric on the shoulders and where it meets at the chest as well as how the majority of the fabric falls to the back. Then all this criteria spools through the idea, how to fit the crochet I make into this shape and can I get that same drape and can I make it look fresh and interesting and not like something from 1994. The particular design I’m working with today has a stitch pattern already picked out, sketch #2 hints at it a bit. Sketch # 1 is going to have to stew a bit more, I know it has potential, but it’s tricky.