I am cjustice and live in Upstate SC. Married 37 years, with 2 adult daughters and 2 awesome son-in-laws and 2 perfect grandchildren. I started knitting when I was about 10-12. Of course, it was long wavy edged never ending pieces. At about age 12 my grand mother was making some crocheted shawls which I thought were cool. I asked her to make one for me. She did me one better and taught me how to make one for myself. I then found boys, and my husband (OK, I married young...) and didn't do any needle work for many years.
I decided to learn to crochet again and checked out a book from the library. I crocheted for several years and then relearned knitting. I love both skills and really believe that needlework has saved lives, mine and others.
Most of the projects I create are from patterns and are gifts for others. I do like to change up the patterns a bit with special flourishes, or colors, or yarns...you know, you do it too, I'm sure.
The crochet wedding jacket was a project I created for my oldest daughter. It is made with crochet cotton. Daughter knew what shape the jacket should be, but left the rest for me. I'd made a couple of items that were my pattern but never anything as important or totally freeform. In September/October 2013 I was inspired by the Clones Mask and created one for Halloween that was similar, but decided to begin us with a really cute baby bonnet inspired by an old doily pattern.
When invited to lead this workshop, I looked at the other workshops and noticed several suggestions that I found on the coat of many colors workshop. Here are a few.
1. Get a notebook. When making your own creation, keeping notes is a MUST. I am pretty slack and don't keep notes on all my projects, but for something this large it was a MUST. I need to do better and keep a project notebook always, though I am good at taking pictures.
2. DO take pictures of your projects. It is a great record of your work, especially if you give many things away, and it tracks your progress.
3. Do NOT be afraid! This is not brain surgery, no one will die and the GREATEST thing about crochet is that is so easy to unravel!! It is not knitting. Plus some mistakes can become just what you wanted.
4. Do what makes you happy! Please, please, please don't just copy mine. I am not a designer per se. Use the colors, yarn, hook, motifs, garment that makes you happy! If you like it that is all that matters.
Once we start, I will check a couple of times daily for questions and comments. I PROMISE to check every day. Don't hesitate to ask any question, if you have one, I am sure someone else does too.
A note about materials. Please don't limit yourself. I am going to make this project out of #10 Crochet cotton. The fine Irish Crochet was done on very VERY fine thread. Crochet cotton is sized by weight and the larger the number the finer the thread. So #3 is almost like regular yarn. # 10 is most readily found and is considered bedspread weight. It is a bit heavy, but works well. I have not been brave enough to try the #30 or finer thread, besides my eyes are not good enough. I was surprised that Walmart had Size 3, 10, 20 & 30 Crochet Cotton and in several different colors. Of course, get your thread ANYWHERE!
Steel crochet hooks. Don't be afraid! The hooks are numbered differently also! The larger the number the tinier the hook, all the better to work the fine work that was done back in the day. I will NOT be using a tiny little hook. I am way WAY too impatient for that. Use what works for you, what makes a nice stitch, not too tight and not too loose.
This first project will be a simple baby bonnet. I pondered long and hard for the right project and just couldn't think of one more simply done, plus, we may just complete it in time for some special spring baby!
Skills:
This is an intermediate to advanced project, I guess...I hate to discourage anyone from trying. If you can ch, sc, dc, hdc, tr, sl st, sk, p, and probably some more, you can handle this project. If you don't know these, don't worry! I'll explain as we go and you can ALWAYS ask me! If you can read a pattern, that will be a necessary thing. One thing I've learned, when I'm following a really complicated pattern I get my non-knitting husband to read it to me. He reads it just a written and I stop him when I need to.
It really helps. You also need to be able to hand sew, just a little. I really hate to sew by hand, but it will be necessary for this project. I promise, you won't have to do a lot.
I am going to list exactly what I am using, but again I stress! Do what feels good for you! You can use yarn, colors, anything!
Materials: Crochet cotton, Crochet hook, scrap fabric (for pattern), contrasting sewing thread (to tack motifs to fabric), sewing needle, and large eye embroidery needle (for hiding those nasty tails).
My materials:
Hook #7
Red Heart Classic Crochet Thread Size 10 1000 yard each in a variety of colors.
I used the following colors: White, pink, yellow, orange, lavender, blue, hot pink, blue
light green
Gauge: Doesn't matter! (woo hoooo! I HATE swatching LOL)
Next ramble: motifs.
. I made several different ones before deciding what I liked most. Have fun with this. Do some research and find what works for you.
I WILL list the ones I am using for this project, but AGAIN, use what makes you happy! I really LOVED the pansies. They were my favorite flower in this project, though the other flowers are cute.
For this project, I used flower designs. These are more modern patterns. I will share what I used and of course, you can make your own.
IMPORTANT!! If you are using antique patterns be aware that the abbreviations are not the same as American crochet-ers are familiar with. See chart below:
I was inspired by an old doily pattern and looked up free flower patterns, changing and tweaking to my liking. I encourage you to do the same. I work in much coarser, heavier thread then used in original Irish Crochet. I want to finish my project and I get very bored if things take toooo looonnnngggg... So it is up to you. I think you could even use lace yarn! The project would go even more quickly.
Stitches:
Magic loop
CH=chain
SC=Single Crochet
DC=Double Crochet
TRC=Treble Crochet
HDC=Half Double Crochet
SL=Slip
ST=Stitch
JN=Join
SK=Skip
Below are the patterns for the flowers I used. Again, do what you like!
Let's begin!
SMALL FLOWERS http://newstitchaday.com/how-to-crochet-the-five-petal-flower-motif/I do not like knots. I've never found one that I like. They leave Lumps in the work, so, what I do is try to work the tails in when possible and hiding ending threads with an embroidery needle, usually at the end. So once I make the Magic Loop and make the 10 sc and pull tight, I work the blue trapping the yellow in the stitches. AND in this case, I trap the tail end of the newly attached blue.
Does that make sense?
OK...Make a several of these. Seems I just never make enough of these cute little filler flowers.