New Project Spotlight – Crochet Series
What are my favorite things to crochet? Well, that depends on my current crochet zen. Blankets are a definite favorite, and are probably my go-to right now. Hats used to my thing with the cute little crocheted flower on the side — think a 1930’s flapper hat. Triangle scarves have also been a popular favorite with me. But being an avid scarf wearer, even I can only wear so many scarves.
These days it’s been more about the journey of learning. Like Mikey from The Crochet Crowd has said (and I’m paraphrasing here) it’s not about speed, it’s about the experience. The journey.
I’ve made it a mission to learn something new with each project. Lately, those projects have been blankets. From mandala style blankets that grow outward in a circular fashion, to new-to-me stitches. I’m intrigued by the mosaic crochet technique but haven’t yet tried it. There is such as expansive world out there of crochet. And I have more than enough yarn to last a lifetime or two.
It was so easy for me to fall into the trap of working the same stitches I always had. Don’t get me wrong, I have a few favorite stitches and can always fall back on them. But I was finding that I was ALWAYS falling back on them. And every once in a while, I’d get bored with it. I’d not finish a project because, well, there just wasn’t enough to keep me into it.
So I made a conscious intention to pick out new stitches, or even combinations of new stitches, new patterns and techniques. Anything where I could say I learned something new. And many times while I know the double crochet and single crochet and half double crochet among dozens of others, it’s the combination and logistics of putting those stitches together that can create a completely new-to-me pattern.
“As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.” — Nelson Mandela
And just so you know, not everyone of these adventures was a glowing success. One in particular that comes to mind is an asymmetrical scarf I made out of a sock yarn. I only had one skein of a pretty large skein of sock yarn and found a pattern for a scarf. By the time I finished the scarf, I knew I’d never wear it. It just didn’t have the substance that I had hoped for. The pattern was well written. The yarn worked up beautifully. The end result just laid around my neck like a wet dishrag. It just wasn’t appealing, at least to me.
Crochet Series
With my new intention in mind, I am going to share a crochet series of new-to-me stitches, patterns, and techniques. Most of these I did not create and I’ll provide a link to the designer’s pattern while also giving them all the credit for it. But I thought it would be fun to share some of the patterns I’ve done even if they were not designed by me. Kudos to all the designers involved!
“Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others, you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give.” — Eleanor Roosevelt
I’ve already shared a couple of the new ones in other posts: lemon peel stitch (not new to me, but at one time it was!), and the alpine stitch.
A few new-to-me projects that I’ve recently finished and will be sharing soon are: a couple of pompom yarn blankets, a glorious granny (by Fiber Spider) blanket, patterns called a Royal Touch, Canyon Moon, The Study of Texture, All in the Family, a couple of tops, and even a couple of triangle scarves thrown in for good measure.
Currently I’m working on a Cosmic CAL, a millstone stitch blanket, Charlotte’s Dream, Sophie’s Dream, a falling leaves blanket, and a Southwest style graphgan. Why so many? Because my interests change. I like to have a variety of projects that I can work on.
In this crochet series I’ll share links to the patterns and the supplies I used. And maybe, one of them will spark a bit of crochet adventure in you. What’s on your hook?
