Crochet and Away

Hi Knitters,

I didn't realize when I spontaneously crocheted a couple of washcloths for the holidays, both Christmas and Valentine's Day, that I would be starting on a new trail, or at least a little detour off of my usual Knitting Only route.  I learned a few basic crochet stitches a few years ago mainly as a means to finish some of my knit projects.  Sometimes a crochet edging is the only thing that will do to add the finishing touch to a handknit.

I was really happy when Margaret asked me to teach a couple of beginning crochet classes at GYC.  I was also quite nervous.  I certainly don't have the same confidence in my ability to crochet as to knit.  I could picture the ladies who paid good money to learn from a skilled instructor stumping me in the first few minutes and after two verrrry long hours demanding their money back.

My fears turned out to be groundless.  Possibly because most of GYC's  customers are extremely nice but also because I could sense how happy they were to be learning a new skill.  We had only just enough time to cover the basics -- chain stitch, single crochet, turning, weaving in ends, and a simple picot edging.  The two hours flew by and I was more than tickled when they asked if I would be teaching more classes because they wanted to learn more.  I also realized that I had better learn more if I was going to teach more.  

What I now know about crochet has been self-taught from library books and trial and error.  I decided I better check my techniques with others more skilled than I.  Thank goodness for Youtube.  I love Youtube!  I have yet to type in a single stitch or skill in either knitting or crochet that has not yielded several helpful videos.

I also searched the stacks of Amazon reading dozens of book reviews.  After much research I ordered these two books:

The one in back is called The Complete Photo Guide to CROCHET.  I think it is going to be my go-to book for all things crochet for years to come.  It seems to be very thorough and the photos are wonderful.  After a large instructional section, there are pages and pages of stitches.  I think if I could only choose one book this would be it.  There are A LOT of books to choose from.

The other book is Beyond the Square: Crochet Motifs.  I love granny squares.  This book goes way beyond squares and has patterns for 144 different shapes of motifs.  I especially loved the several hand-illustrated pages showing all kinds of creative uses for the motifs.  I am picturing a scarf of dozens and dozens of hexagons in every color of the rainbow.  Another project to add to the list........

Here's just a couple of the motifs that caught my eye.  I am envisioning a Christmas tree loaded with one of each of the 144 motifs in gorgeous shiny jewel colors starched to hang as ornaments.

The ladies in the last class asked if I would teach a class on how to crochet a hat.  Margaret gave the go-ahead so I am in how to crochet a hat mode right now.  Nothing in my stash jumped out so I stopped in at GYC yesterday to pick up some inspiration yarn.  As usual, after much wandering, I ended up back at the Spud and Chloe cubbies.  I bought these two skeins of "Sweater" in Firefly and Splash.  Love the color names.  I think Spud and Chloe would probably be the most fun place in the entire world to work.  I dream of a visit there.  I dream of a wall of bins in my studio filled with every weight and color of Spud and Chloe....................

Firefly is beautiful don't you think?  The theme for Martha Stewart's show today was happiness.  Everyone is the audience wore yellow.  They looked beautiful.  Sunny and warm and.........well, happy!  Apparently wearing yellow, seeing yellow, being around yellow lifts one spirits.  Not surprising.  

 Happy Knitting (and crocheting), Josey