Regular readers will know that I have been trying to make a crochet flower without, it has to be said, a great deal of success. When I was in London recently, however, I treated myself to a copy of "Cute and Easy Crochet" by Nicki Trench on the basis that it was aimed at beginners and included patterns for crochet flowers. The method used in the book was very different to the method I have been puzzling over in my previous attempts, and to my beginner crochet brain made more sense! I have been eyeing up crochet projects as the ideal thing for long car journeys so with our recent trip to Tallinn under my belt I am pleased to announce that I have a crochet flower to share! You can relax now
Wendy :)
I was very proud of my first crochet flower and of course, once I had started I didn't stop!
The small one is that size because I misread the instructions! Entirely my fault as the instructions were really clear and easy to follow (despite the evidence above!) and I am now enthused to try out more of the projects in the book. I have already hunted out some wool to start on a purse project, but have one question for the crocheters amongst you, how do you hold the yarn in your hand to maintain an even tension? The book instructs you to "Pick up the yarn with your little finger in the opposite hand to your hook, with your palm facing upwards. Turn your hand to face downwards, with the yarn on top of your index finger and under the other two fingers and wrapped tight around the little finger. Keeping your index finger only at a slight curve, hold your work just under the slip knot with the other hand." Well, despite several attempts I cannot do this with any comfort, so how do you hold the yarn?
A few weeks ago I signed up for the
In the Bag - Ugly Fabric Challenge and my fabrics arrived today from my swap partner,
Mary and I now see just how much of a challenge this is going to be!
The rules of the challenge are "to construct a quilt using
90% of the fabric in your “In The Bag”.
You may add
: Any percentage of fabric from your own stash & you may add 1 yard newly purchased piece of fabric. There is no min. or max. quilt size required. Fabric may be used on front, back & binding of quilt. Quilt size is determined by the amount of fabric you add to the 2 yards you will be sent in your “In The Bag”
So any suggestions as to what to do will be much appreciated.
Well done - your crochet flowers look fantastic.
ReplyDeleteAnd good luck with the Ugly Fabric Challenge!!! You are very brave and I'm looking forward to seeing how you tackle that large scale print on top - a challenge, indeed!
Thanks Fiona, it is going to be interesting that's for sure!
DeleteThose are great flowers, well done for mastering them. That surely is fugly fabric what a great challenge, can't wait to see what you do with it.
ReplyDeleteYour flowers look great. As for the Ugly fabric, I suggest cutting it very small. lol.
ReplyDeleteI'm with quiltmania - very small! Well done on your flowers - they are lovely. I can't ever get beyond making a chain without it going wrong somewhere.
ReplyDeleteWell done on mastering those crochet flowers! They look great! As for how you hold the yarn, I think you hold it however it's most comfortable for you! My mum and I both hold it in different ways (she wraps it around her pinkie, I use my index finger and don't wrap it). As long as the end result is even tension and not-sore fingers (hehe!) I don't think there's a wrong way. But then I don't always match my points perfectly in quilting either so do with that advice as you will ;)
ReplyDeleteIf it were me (which it plainly isn't) I would try double pinwheels with a light-ish solid and sashing.
ReplyDeleteYou're flowers are great. I especially like the top one that changes colour. I think I'd make a string quilt with the uglies!
ReplyDeleteyay! Well done! I'm so proud of you and pleased that neither of us has to die. My scanner/printer STILL isn't working, despite me setting my dad on it, so I was getting anxious about this.
ReplyDeleteI wrap the yarn round my little finger, it goes over the ring finger and middle finger and I use the middle finger to adjust tension, I lift it up and down as required. It looks like I'm sitting there swearing at mr CA but that's fine.
Love the flowers, but holy crap that is UGLY fabric! I'd go for a sort of sunset effect to play on the bottom fabric (and then hide it ;o) )
ReplyDeleteMy APOLOGIES for being SO MEAN with these fabrics!
ReplyDeleteBut I sure am looking forward to seeing what becomes of them....
- Mary, The Curious Quilter
Very pretty flowers!
ReplyDelete