The “O” in “Crochet”
Thank you to Susie for asking the first question on “Curious and Crafty Readers” about Crochet Bouquet. She wanted to make the red flower that takes the place of the ‘O’ in ‘Crochet’ on the book cover (it also appears on page 11).
I used red Cascade’s Lana Grande, a very bulky yarn, for the flower. The pattern is the Five-Petal Traditional Rose (page 97), worked through Round 5.
The sepals are made with Lion Brand Incredible. The sepal pattern is part of the Fire Wheel (page 84). The yellow Simple Center (page 34) is Lion Brand Fun Fur.
Let me tell you about the other yarns that appear in “Crocheted Flower Basics.”
- Page 8, top flower. Merino Tape from Colinette. Here are a couple of Primrose Layers flowers done in Merino Tape. It’s such fun yarn! The flowers are pretty big, though.
- Page 8, second from the top, is Lion Brand’s Incredible ribbon. The third flower is a very old yarn from my stash, and the orange flower is a synthetic raffia.
- Page 9, orange flower is Caron International’s Simply Soft Boucle, and the other is Caron’s Pizazz. Both are very bulky.
- Page 10, the turquoise flower at the top is Merino Style from Knit Picks.
- Pages 11 and 12. The flowers that illustrate different kinds of stamens are Magallones from Araucania Yarns.
Sunflowers, Workshop, Signings
I met a lady on Ravelry who has already crocheted several flowers from Crochet Bouquet, including the “Sunflower on a Grid.” (Her Ravelry tag is iCrochetiCreate.)
I worked out the pattern for that flower on the long drive from our house to Alpine, Texas. My husband went to a conference there, and I got to tag along. * I crocheted and ripped and crocheted some more and took notes. * Rep bet *s several times.
Finally the proportions were just right, and I crocheted it all in black Euroflax Sport. Why black? Because the inspiration for this flower was all black.
The Grammar of Ornament, by Owen Jones (Dover Publications), is one of my favorite design books. Right there on the bottom right corner of “Plate 1: Ornament from Oceania,” is this design, which looks like it might have been from a piece of bark cloth. I have admired those flowers and the colors for years. “Sunflower on a Grid” is my interpretation of that design.
The black flower didn’t make it into the book, because black is very difficult to photograph. Sometime in the summer, I’ll post a project that uses the black “Sunflower on a Grid” and takes advantage of the grid for a special effect.
Workshop and Book Signings: Hope to See You There!
I’m teaching a crochet flower class at the Estes Park Wool Market, June 13, 2008, in Colorado. We’ll practice several unusual crochet techniques from Crochet Bouquet, including how to use padding threads. By the time we’re done, you’ll have a bunch of pretty crocheted flowers. Check the sidebar for more information.
Crochet Bouquet book signings:
- Dublin Public Library, May 10, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Dublin, Texas.
- Hastings Books, May 24, 1 to 4 p.m., Stephenville, Texas.
- Showers of Flowers yarn shop, June 10, Denver, Colorado.
Inspired by Irish Crochet
I can’t remember now exactly when and how I found out about Irish Crochet Lace, but it was love at first sight. The detailed, imaginative crocheted flowers and leaves amazed me, and they are the original inspiration for Crochet Bouquet.
This piece used to be a jacket. At least I think it was, because the armholes are so ragged. It looks like someone cut away the sleeves. It’s still a great piece. The heavily textured flowers contrast so nicely with the lacy background.
Here’s a photo with a tape measure, to give you an idea of the scale of these flowers. The main flower in the photo is about 2-1/2 inches across, and it has hundreds of tiny stitches in it. And to make it even more impressive, the people who made the Irish Crochet that was sold were often children. They probably copied the motifs from a sample—no written patterns!
You can download old Irish Crochet patterns from the Antique Pattern Library. There’s also a Yahoo group by the same name: Antique Pattern Library on Yahoo. If you prefer to have a book, some publishers, including Dover Publications, have reprinted some of the old books. You can find Irish Crochet Lovers groups on Yahoo and Ravelry.
Ray Flower Placemats and Napkins
The Ray Flower is sweet when you work it up in a tiny thread like DMC’s Cebelia No. 20. I used dark and light shades of blue and a contrasting golden. Feel free to use colors that match your china or kitchen decor.
I sewed the flowers on my placemats. Using fabric glue is another option. With a stiff paintbrush, spread a thin layer of adhesive on the back of the flower, making sure to coat each petal to the edge. Then press in place. I really like GemTac fabric glue, but there are many other good glues on the market.
Ray Flower Placemats and Napkins
You Will Need
- the Ray Flower pattern from Crochet Bouquet
- 3 colors of size 20 crochet cotton (I used DMC’s Cebelia No. 20, 100% Cotton, 405yd/370.5m per ball)
- Hook: Size 7/1.65mm steel hook
- Purchased placemats and napkins
- Sewing needle and thread or fabric glue
- Pins
Instructions
- For each placemat, crochet one large and two small Ray Flowers (page 31 of Crochet Bouquet), changing colors as desired or using the photograph as a guide.
- For each napkin, crochet one small Ray Flower.
- Arrange flowers on placemat and napkin, and sew or glue in place.
Crochet Bouquet is Early!
Welcome Dear Readers! I am thrilled you found this blog, because it could mean you have started reading my new book, Crochet Bouquet. This is the site I mentioned in the book, where you can ask questions, make comments, and post photos of the projects you’ve made with my flower patterns.
The original release date of Crochet Bouquet was May 6, but the UPS Guy brought my copies yesterday. I’m guessing that Barnes & Noble, amazon.com, and other retailers will soon have the book in stock.
Oh no–I thought I had about three more weeks to get this blog up and running! Well, it probably will take me that long to smooth and polish all the rough edges. Then you’ll be able to register and post to this blog. In the meantime, please leave a comment if you have any questions or, well…comments!
I will post regularly, with more ideas on how to use crocheted flowers on clothing and home accessories and more. And I’ll let you know when and where I will be signing books or teaching workshops.
Come back on April 20th to see a pretty placemat and napkin set that uses the Ray Flower.
Until then, Happy Crocheting!
DFW Fiber Fest 2008-1
Our wisteria bloomed at the end of March. We loved going in and out of the house, so we could admire the abundant flowers and breathe their sweet scent. I wish I could attach that smell to this post, so you could enjoy it, too!
When the wisteria blooms, I know that the DFW Fiber Fest will be coming up soon. This year it was very, very soon–like last weekend. The market was bigger this year, with lots of hand-dyed yarns. It is big enough to give you lots of variety, but small enough to be pleasant and calm.
I taught two workshops: how to make polymer clay buttons on Friday, and seamless argyles on Sunday. Both classes were small, which I really like. It means everybody gets more attention, and it’s much calmer. I like calmness. Can you tell?
Sharon, Jane, and Doreen made these argyle sock in the round. It’s an advanced technique, and they did well. It’s normally a very quiet class (except for people whispering to themselves), because people have to concentrate hard. But we did manage to discuss some options for improving the class.
They wanted to finish a sock, and suggested expanding the class to 9 or 12 hours. Convention organizers don’t usually like this option, because participants don’t like to invest that much of their precious workshop time with one technique or teacher that they may end up not enjoying. I understand that completely.
Another option was to make a smaller sock. The one we make now will fit an average foot, and makes a good sock for around the house. A smaller sock might fit a kid. This may be the way to go for big conferences. Guilds, on the other hand, might go for a longer workshop, over a weekend, possibly.
Now, imagine a yarn-covered car and stay tuned for more DFW Fiber Fest.
Animal Kingdom Knitting
This is the last report from Disney World, and it’s a good thing, too. We’ve been back for two-and-a-half weeks already! And, I need to tell you about the DFW Fiber Fest. If you missed it–poor you!
Back to Animal Kingdom. By the time we got to the Mt. Everest Expedition ride, the wait time was already 45 minutes or so. We made the best of it, talking and admiring the authentic looking expedition station. Snowshoes, skis, and other snow equipment hung from walls and ceilings as if a group of explorers might come in at any moment.
Among the cold weather equipment, we saw these colorfully striped and patterned socks. After a few more bends in the long line, we walked under these crazy-color, knitted gloves. They looked handmade to me.
It was worth the wait. In addition to the lovely socks and gloves, the ride was thrilling.
Animal Kingdom and Epcot Center were the group’s favorite Disney parks, but I’m ending these spring break reports with a sight from the Magic Kingdom: flowers from a float that was in the night parade.
Magic Kingdom Mosaics
Still footsore from our day at Epcot Center, we got to Magic Kingdom early the next day. I wanted to see one thing, most especially. A few years ago, when we were at Disney World with family, I glimpsed the mosaic panels inside the castle at the Magic Kingdom. Ella was only one-and-a-half at the time, and we were hurrying to some other place, so I didn’t get to study them. This time, with camera in hand, I was determined.
Oh no! The castle was roped off! Luckily D-World has employees every few feet, so we asked one if we could go inside. “The castle is open from, like, noon to 12:30 and 2:00 to 2:30, to let crowds through after the show,” he said.
We were looking at souvenirs nearby at precisely noon. Eva and I ran over, and managed to get a few photos before the crowd made it too difficult. Wow. Several panels tell the story of Cinderella, according to Disney. The detail on the gowns in the picture above, is amazing.
It’s funny to see the caricatured Disney stepsisters rendered in such an ancient technique. My eye is used to seeing portraits of ancient Romans in mosaic–not cartoon characters!
Here’s Cinderella, fleeing the ball. Most of the photos are at an angle, because I had to use the flash inside the castle. The flash of light reflects off the glass and it whites out the colors. So angles it must be!
Cinderella tries on the slipper, as the prince (right) and one of the step-sisters (left) watch. Below, you can see the top part of this panel. The prince is fairly grown-up and stern-looking.
I’ve noticed that Disney has trouble with princes. We have two Disney-Cinderella storybooks at home. The prince is different in each one. In one, the artist goes to great lengths to obscure the prince’s face, for instance, when they dance, their clasped hands hide his face. We can see Cinderella just fine!
Any ideas about why this could be? I thought that the idea of handsomeness changes so much between generations, there’s no caricature for it. And really, the beauty of the Disney princesses is very much a caricature. Badness is also easily caricatured.
The prince carries Cinderella home in this picture. The details are so pretty: look at the horse’s trappings, all the gold tiles, and the ground with all its little clumps of grass (some blue-grass, I see!).
The mosaics are beautifully done and well worth seeing, if you find yourself in Disney’s Magic Kingdom in Orlando. May I offer advice? Go with a friend or spouse. Marvel at the ingenuity of this totally artificial place. Be amazed at the extremely competent crowd control. Bring a fat wad of money to spend at one of the nicer and less-crowded restaurants (make a reservation). Leave before you become exhausted.
Don’t bring little kids. They get hot. They get tired and hungry. The jostling crowds of people way, way taller than they are, frighten them. Most of the rides are not appropriate for them. Many children are scared of those huge (to them), weird characters. I have never seen more unhappy children in one place, than I have at Disney World. Their parents, having spent so much money to get there and get into the park, are determined to get their money’s worth. Not a good combination.
Knitting at Disney World
Eight or nine countries have exhibitions on the far side of the lake at Epcot Center in DisneyWorld. People from those countries work there. The buildings and lanes are done in the style of each country. And the shops have imports from each country. You can find some really nice stuff!
I loved the Morocco exhibit, with its gorgeous tile work. I love to find connections among different craft traditions. These tile compositions remind me of patchwork quilts. Mosaic, with its bits of color, reminds me of Fair Isle knitting. It’s fun to figure out how to knit or crochet something that I see in another craft.
After the amazingly colorful China exhibit, we walked to the stark and simple exhibit of Norway. Norway has a recognizable knitting tradition, and it is most famous for the black and white, stranded ski sweaters. That’s just what I saw, looking gorgeous in one of the shop windows.
“I need to go inside and see the sweaters,” I said to the other mom we were running around with. You knitters will recognize the name on the label.
This one has the colorful trim around the neck that Norwegian sweaters are so famous for. I’m going to make one of those someday! I think they are beautiful.
These flowers are beautiful, too. Don’t you love the silvery leaves with the pink and purple?
Orlando Mosaics
Eva and I are recovering from a busy school trip to Florida. When we stepped out of the plane at the Orlando airport, there was a gorgeous mosaic. It was probably about 30 feet long. These pictures show only a small part of it.
What a great start to our spring vacation!
We went to Universal Studios, Kennedy Space Center, and Disney World. One morning, we had an airboat ride, where we saw some sunning alligators. A bunch of cows grazed along the water’s edge. “Don’t the alligators eat the cows?” asked one of the students.
Our guide said, “No. A cow is too big for an alligator to swallow. Now a dog, on the other hand –¦.” Alligators clamp their prey in those strong jaws, but they can’t chew, so they have to swallow everything whole. If it’s too big to swallow, the alligator is not interested.
We also saw some water birds standing near the banks, with their wings outspread. “The minnows go into the shade of the wings, and then the bird has a snack,” our guide told us.
A couple of days later, we were at the Epcot Center of Disney World. To enter “The Land” exhibit, you walk between two long and beautiful mosaics that remind you of landforms. The mosaicist used glass, tile, stone, and glass pebbles all together in these mosaics.
Was there anything at all for knitters at Disney World? Why, yes there was. Stay tuned.
This added a few days later: The mosaic at the Orlando Airport is called Florida Vacation, and it’s by Victor Bokas. You can see the whole thing at the Orlando Airport web site. The fish with the pink circles is at the bottom right. We saw another mosaic while we waited for the tram to take us to baggage claim. It was Field of Ferns by Henry Sinn. I didn’t take pictures of it, but find it, too, at the link above (scroll way down).