Crochetivism

Crochetivism: n 1 a doctrine emphasising spirited or revolutionary crochet activity, e.g. the use of crochet in mass demonstrations, urban interventions, in raising political consciousness in traditional, disparate and challenging ways. 2 the systematic use of crochet for political ends. Crochetivist n and adj
Pick up your hook and ACT now

Flower Rag Rug Crochet

Here we have the results of my experiment with the various shapes that can be created and achieved with rag rugs. Here I began with a circle for my rag rug tutorial you can read it here
I decided to try out making a flower as it isn’t something that I’ve seen before in the rag rug world. I love the whole practice of working with recycled fabrics and sustainability. I love the exploratory nature of design and construction. The rugs themselves become little works of art that will last for years and years to come. No one has been exploited in the process and no materials are wasted.
I happen to think they are particularly interesting and pretty to boot. I recently set up a group on flickr for other rag rug makers to contribute to. Please do go and have a look there if you are interested in rag rugs either to look at or to make. You can find the group here

Here is the rug before I had a play with the photograph.

For more exclusive patterns and handmade creations please click here http://www.folksy.com/shops/Thesunroom

Rhubarb & Custard Dickey

This is my pattern for a crochet ‘dickey’ and is in response to a competition I held in October this year. Details can be found on this blog
The dickey is worked in the round and is a fairly quick project. I have used double stranded worsted wool which means it’s exceptionally warm and very practical.
Note:
This pattern is written in US terminology please refer to my Crochet Conversion Chart to change to UK
Use two balls of yarn and crochet simultaneously with both colours/strands at the same time. Join all rounds with a slip stitch.
Materials:
Caledon Hills Worsted Wool 881 Goldenrod 1 skein
Caledon Hills Worsted Wool 865 Sweet Pea 1 skein
7mm Hook or US K 10.5 hook
Darning/tapestry needle
Pattern.
Ch 56 join with a sl st
Rnd 1-3 Ch 2 dc all around, join with sl st
Rnd 4 (Inc Rnd) ch 2, *work 2 dc into 1st st, work 1 dc into next st*,** repeat al the way around (84 sts)
Next round begins the wavy ripple pattern.
Rnd 5-6 Ch 2, work 1 dc into next three sts, *work x2 dc into next two sts, work 1 dc into next four sts, decrease two sts by working 2dctog twice, work 1 dc into next four sts*, ** rep to end, join with sl st 
Rnd 7-8 Change to double stranded Goldenrod and work same pattern as rows 5-6
Fasten yarn off after sl st.
Rejoin Goldenrod yarn at neck edge.
Rnd 9 – ch 1 work a complete rnd in sc
Rnd 10 – ch 1 work a complete round in hdc, fasten off.
To finish sew all ends in.



For more exclusive patterns and handmade creations please click here http://www.folksy.com/shops/Thesunroom

Inside Crochet Preview Issue 5

Inside Crochet
KAL media have issued preview pictures of the next issue of Inside Crochet Magazine.

Patterns include fingerless gloves or gauntlets.

A little lacy scarf number.

A V neck tunic.

Beaded Cuffs

Tunisian Shrug.
There are more pictures to be found on Flickr of Issue 5. I’m not clear about when this issue might go on sale in the UK as the information you can find on the internet is not informative at all. I did email the editors over a month ago but have never heard back from them.
I did promise you all a review of the last issue, but time passed me by and I will do a review of the next copy for you as soon a I can get my hands on a copy, to date not an easy task. Distribution of this magazine appears to be patchy.

Wednesday Night Project 251109

This week I have decided to focus on interesting and perhaps inspirational fellow crocheter blog sites.

Here we have Crochet Dad Ramblings
The repetitive actions needed for knitting and crochet can bring the mind and body to a state called a "relaxation response" that is quite similar to what people experience with techniques such as repetitive prayer, yoga, meditation, Tai Chi, and other relaxation disciplines. Research at the Harvard Medical School Mind/Body Institute has found that when an individual is knitting (or crocheting) his/her heart rate can drop 11 beats a minute and his/her blood pressure drops as well. These results can have significant health benefits for people who knit and crochet. Therefore, I am a man who crochets. I design my own crochet and sell patterns and finished projects.This week I have decided to focus on interesting and inspirational fellow crochet blog sites.

Crocheting Chemist
And below is a picture of beautiful yarn from the Dishcloth Diaries Blog

Hello Kitty

From Wicked Crochet Lady Blog


Why not visit Wandys Crochet Blog

Eight By Six

Colours of Enfys

All Things Nice

Crazy Chaotic Colourful Crochet Cosy

I was recently inspired to create this tea cosy after seeing some great vintage tea cosies Here

To see more exclusive patterns and handmade creations please click here http://www.folksy.com/shops/Thesunroom

Crochet Felted Knitting Needle Bag

This crocheted knitting needle bag was a bit of an experiment. If you are new to felting I would suggest trying to felt a few samples prior to making your finished bag. I have included exact measurements prior to felt and post felting. I have also included details of the felting temperature, cycle etc but washing machines do vary so again I would urge you to do a few samples first.
Materials
100g Caledon Hills 929 Meadow Worsted Wool
100g Caledon Hills 865 Sweet Pea
Both yarns are available at Yarnmarket
6mm Crochet Hook, Darning/tapestry Needle, 1 pair of old knitting needles (1 pair of used 15” needles).
Note:
This pattern is written in US terminology please refer to my conversion chart for UK Conversion here
Prior to felting.
Pattern
Bag
ch 50, begin all rows by ch 2 throughout
Rows 1 – 2 work in hdc
Row 3 – continue working in hdc increasing 1 st at each end of the row by working 2hdc into first and last st.
Row 4 – 9 begin working in dc, increase 1 st at each end of the row by working 2dc into first and last st
Row 10 – work in dc with no increases.
Row 11 – 15 – work these rows in dc, decreasing at each end of every row by skipping first and last sts
Row 16 – work this row in hdc and decrease 1 st at each end of this row by skipping 1st and last sts
Row 17-18 work in hdc no increases
Handles
Make 2
ch 61 work 3 rows in sc
Measurements prior to felting
Bag top edge 18”
Bag bottom edge 25”
Bag depth 5.5”
handles 22” long 1.25” wide
Felting.
I felted the bag in the washing machine at 60 degrees for 40 mins, NO spin. I then emptied the washing machine and let the bag drip dry. You can reshape the bag while it is still wet if required.
  
Measurements after felting
Bag top edge 14.5”
Bag bottom edge 20”
Bag depth 4.5”
handles 18” long 1” wide
Finishing
Sew the handles onto the inside of the bag.
Sew both side edges of the bag up to the top 1” of the bag.
Turn the bag the right way out and sew the knitting needle onto the bag.
Some people may advocate sewing the bag together and sewing the handle on prior to felting. However I felt that it would be easier to reshape if necessary if the components were all separate.


To see more exclusive patterns and handmade creations please click here http://www.folksy.com/shops/Thesunroom

Wednesday Night Project 181109

The wonderful world of Free Form crochet.
What is freeform? Freeform crochet is like painting. The hook is a brush and the yarn a paint. The result can be abstract or realistic. Freeform is original design, not a reproduction of another person's pattern, it goes beyond the realm of patterns and restrictions that usually apply toward our art. The outcome is a piece of art like no other, not only functional, but beautiful as well. Freeform includes 2-D and 3-D art, clothing and useful items.   Please come in and get to know us better! International Free Form Crochet Guild
Freeform Demo

Free Form Crochet can be found at crochetville too visit here Crochetville


Cathy of California

Derbyshire Guild of Wavers Spinners Dyers

Wearable Art Connection

Free Form Necklace on Flickr

Crochet With Attitude

Lion Brand Yarn Studio

Knitting For Art Exhibition

How to Crochet tr2tog

How to Tr2Tog
I have had quite a few emails asking me how to tr2tog and so I am now writing this up for you.
tr2tog = work two incomplete tr stitches, keeping the last loop of each stitch on the hook and then completing both stitches together.
UK – tr, US - dc
Begin with the appropriate size chain. Work first treble into 4th chain from hook.

YO, into stitch, YO, back through stitch (3 loops on hook)

YO, draw through 2 loops (2 loops on hook)

YO, into next stitch, YO, back through stitch (4 loops on hook)
YO, draw through 2 loops (3 loops on hook)
 
YO, draw through all 3 loops.

Here I have completed two tr2tog.

Cuddle Me - Elegant Shoulder Warmer

Shoulder Warmer
7mm hook
Caledon Hills Worsted Wool – Sweet Pea 200g
Darning/tapestry needle.
Note: This pattern is written in US if you are working in the UK please refer to my Crochet Conversion Chart US/UK
Ch 70 join with slip stitch to form neckline.
Rnd 1 – ch 2, dc all the way around and join with sl st
Rnd 2 – ch 2, increase by working x2 dc into each 5^th st, all other stitches 1 dc, join with sl st
Rnd 3 – ch 2, increase by working x2 dc into each 4^th st, all other stitches 1 dc, join with sl st
Rnd 4 – 16 ( repeat row 4 12 times) –ch 2, dc into 1^st st and every st all around.
Finishing.

Scallop Edge
1 sc into first st, *skip next st, x5 dc into next st, skip next st, 1 sc into next st*, ** repeat all around.
Sew all ends in.
Although I have edged this with a scallop edging you could use various other types of edging or attach tassels or fringing.

Ruffle Hand Warmer Pattern

Ruffle Hand Warmer

Ruffle Hand Warmer

Caledon Hills Worsted Wool 100g Sweet Pea

5.5mm Hook

Darning/Tapestry Needle.

Stitch marker

Note

The hand muff is worked in a continuous round. The pattern uses a slip stitch to join the the first round only, after that just work continuously without slip st. If you wish to count the rounds you can use a stitch marker or safety pin to mark completed rounds.

This pattern is written in US if you are working in the UK please refer to my Crochet Conversion Chart UK/US 

Hand Muff

Ch 40, join with sl st

Work 18 continuous rounds in hdc into each st.

Ruffle

Now work x2 sc into each st for 3 continuous rounds. Break yarn and attach to the other end of the hand muff and again work x2 sc into each st for 3 continuous rounds.

You could continue working in increasing rounds to create a bigger ruffle if desired.

Sew in all ends.

Cuddle Me Elegant Shoulder Warmer Pattern

Wednesday Night Project 111110

Hello Folks,
I haven’t done a Wednesday Night Project for a couple of weeks I apologise. I haven’t been feeling too good as Mr virus/cold/flu has been to visit. I’m glad to report I’m beginning to feel better now :-)
I thought tonight’s inspiration should for those new to crochet and beginners. I wanted to share some top sites that I believe are well worth a visit.
Learn How to crochet here About Crochet

How to make a single crochet stitch.

Or learn how to crochet a granny square Here
If you are looking for new patterns to try, then if you can’t find what you want here please visit.
Crochet Pattern Central



TDaily Crocheter

For visual inspiration there are a plethora of great crochet groups that can be found on flickr.
The Happy Hookers
The Crochet Comments Group
The Art of Crochet Group
Hooked on Crochet Group

Crochet, a French word, meaning hook, enjoys the reputation of a needlework activity that is relaxing, yet creative. Designing striking stitches, crocheters through the ages handcrafted a variety of styles from gossamer filet work to the bold stitches used for afghans. Currently, crocheting has become popular with young mothers, teens, college-age kids, and even boys. Give yourself a mood lift and join in the fun at Simply Crochet where the enthusiasm for crocheting results in a wide variety of resources selected specially with you in mind.
Simply Crochet Com

The article below is sourced from Crochets Free Patterns
Many theorize that knitted and crochet items survived in the early period of imperialism. Many communities in this era used this kind of industry as their main source of living. The crocheted and knitted products are mostly purchased by the middle class society.
Crochet was known to identify the status symbol of a person from the early history. This kind culture was practiced by the royalties who were able to afford buying expensive lace products and make the value of crochet products to depreciate.
Many have theorized that knitting and crocheting was developed through the old practices of people leaving in countries like China, Middle Eastern countries, and in South America. Many people believe that crochet may have been practiced by early cultures to flex the muscles of the forefinger rather than a fashion hook. This theory was accepted by many craft historians because of the lack of artifact crochet products as proof of its traditional practices.

In the early 1800’s, many European communities have used crochet products in place of the much expensive lace made materials. Crocheting only requires fewer materials, and it is also widely accepted by different social classes. From these periods, crochet was done mostly on thread. The most common widely made products from crochet were filet crochet made in rows either open or close mesh to make a particular pattern. While in the 1900’s, the massive production of steel hooks have introduced many products which are made from thread.

In today’s time, crocheting and knitting is the pleasure of many people. It has recently evolved the interest of many people on handicraft making that made it so popular with the high quality of yarns and threads used. The pleasure of making a crochet item is working it with different yarn textures and colors.

As a beginner, a person should learn the process of making a pattern row and a single stitch crocheting. Here are some basic steps that will help a person learn how to make a crochet product.

1. First, the person may need the use of crochet supplies like a size G crochet hook, small scissors, worsted-weight yarn with any colors, and a big-eyed yarn needle.
2. He may start by holding the crochet hook in his right hand if he is right-handed. Then he may create a slipped knot on the hook.

3. He may slide the hooked yarn to the slipknot of the hook. This process will create a continuous stitch or a chained like stitches. He will then proceed to bringing back the yarn on top of the hook making the thread go into the hook and grabbing the slip knot into the hook.

4. He can pass on the first chain stitch allowing the knot to be properly hooked on the knot of the thread. This will allow the thread to be properly in place so that it will not loosen. A much tighter knot would be better to create a chain stitch.

5. He may insert the hook to the hole of on the next chain stitch, and then slide the yarn passing through the center of the second chain stitch going to the upper part of the hook. He may have now created two loops on the hook of the threads.

6. He may bring the yarn back on the hook from back to front and slide the knot in the center of the loops that he had created on the hook.

7. From the second loop, create another one chain stitch to make a counter clock wise loop. This allows the hook to remain in the chain stitches. He may start again in creating the following rows, creating the same loops on the previous rows.

8. He may create a single crochet stitch in the first loop tightened going to the following loops of the previous rows. He must be exactly sure to create the hook on the last stitch to retain the stitches on their places.
To finish the work, he may cut the excess yarn on the skin. He must not forget to retain at least 6 inches of the thread on the last chain stitch. This will allow him to slide the hook up to the upper part of the loops and bringing the thread into the last loops of the hook. As a beginner, he may find it difficult to do especially on more detailed crochet products. He may start doing these basic steps to help him get used with the techniques.