the tale of how arin went blind trying to crochet (part 2)

as i stated previously, i’d purchased “The Complete Photo Guide to Crochet” and in the very back of the book is a gallery of items created by the book’s contributors…

which is where i saw something like this:

i had to have it. those beads are absolutely beautiful!  I HAD TO MAKE THIS NECKLACE!!!  but sadly, there was no pattern listed with it :(  ~oh no!~  but, of course, being in a wicked frenzy to purchase all the ZOMGTOTALLYAWESOME crochet books i can find, i was *compelled* to stalk google the artist’s name and ~voila~ : melody macduffee - (do NOT miss her gallery), so i ran lickety-split** to buy her “Crochet Overlay Jewelry” book, hoping that the beads would be part of the patterns within.  AND THEY ARE!!!  along with several other really impressive pieces.  i’ve never tried this method of crochet, but the instructions are clear and easy to follow. 

just a couple of comments, though, about the designs: all are crocheted with something called “top-stitching thread”.  i have no idea what that means.  apparently, it’s the size of two strands of standard sewing thread, but no shop that i went to had ever heard the term.  also, most designs are made using a .75mm steel crochet hook.  let me repeat: a .75mm steel crochet hook. 

to give you an idea:

i’m not saying this is impossible (clearly, it’s not).  i’m just saying i’m going to need MUCH BIGGER EYES. 

**(unrelated sidenote: i had to google to see if lickety-split was hyphenated and, basically, google just taught me that the term IS hyphenated, it means to go very fast, and OH HEY, it’s also used for porn. so, yes, i ran fast.  no, i didn’t stop for porn.  this time.)

Books, Crochet, Comments (0)
June 06, 2010 @ 10:32 am

the tale of how arin went blind trying to crochet (part 1)

recently i’ve been on some kind of frenzied hunt for crochet books… i swear, they’re *like crack to me*!  i can’t pass a book store without rushing to the craft section to see what they have.  then, someone recently gave me an amazon gift card and i spent… 5… F I V E… five… hours, looking through every crochet book that i could find :|  either there’s been a recent surge in the number of ZOMGTOTALLYAWESOME crochet books or i was just not paying attention in the past!

the first “must have” was: The Complete Photo Guide To Crochet and OMG, it’s simply ~beautiful~.  though there’s not many patterns within, there is a HUGE collection of unusual stitches and motifs.  i’ve had some “encyclopedias” of crochet before, but none of them have impressed me as much as this book.  the pictures are just beautiful (bright and colorful!!!) and the stitch instructions are easy to follow… if you crochet, you should have this book!!!!

needing a couple of small gifts, i made a couple of the motifs into bookmarks - (the tassels and chains can be removed and the motifs can be used as appliques or pins, etc.)

but, of course, i couldn’t stop there… oh no.

in the *back* of the book, there was a picture… and *right here* begins the tale of how arin went blind trying to crochet…

Books, Crochet, Yarn, Comments (0)
June 04, 2010 @ 11:53 pm