Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Stashbusting with crochet

Today I want to tell you about my Clever Idea for the square crochet hook I bought at the Knitters' Fair.  Shockingly, it involves crochet.


It's taken me years to grasp the mechanics of crochet, and even now I'm content not to venture beyond the basics, but I've been very very interested in the random shapings one can make with a hook as opposed to two needles.  Also: totally smitten with the hand motion involved in making crochet fabric.  And even more smitten with the notion of crochet being faster than knitting, and faster at using up yarn to boot.  Maybe these are only rumours, but they are awfully enticing.

Normally of course we like to do lots with just a little yarn, because it's less expensive.  But when you are moving and have a huge yarn stash, the idea of transforming yarn very quickly into very functional aids for living... well, that's pretty appealing.

The other thing that intrigues me about crochet is the potential for colourwork. 



I've been wanting to get onto a crochet project for a while now, but I couldn't come up with an idea that would be worth the time (given my lack of experience and limited decision-making ability re. yarn choices.)  But then I watched Trish knitting stuff with yarn held double, and after that she actually said to me "Hold the yarn double!" when I said I wanted to crochet something bulky, but that the vast supply of 100% wool I'd decided was just a bit too scratchy for me to think of using for sweaters is sport weight.

So I decided to hold this yarn double and work in these two colours.  It's coming out very squishy, exactly as I'd hoped...


... and the 6mm hook is just the right size for a firm fabric.

Next time I mention this project I hope to have a bit more of it to show you, and I'll tell you what it's going to be.

Meanwhile: have a great day, and I'll see you tomorrow!

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