Tag: crochet

Smarter Than Your Average Fish

Another fishy project from… Well, I think you know what book it is by now.

I chose this pattern based mostly on the fact that it looked easy as pie, and I could whip it up in an evening. This certainly proved true, and I’m fairly happy with it. The only issue I have is the ugly seam running along the side opposite… I don’t have a worthwhile picture of it, so you’ll just have to trust me when I say that I need to work on my finishing skills.

This book is really beginning to grow on me. While it was initially a huge disappointment, maybe I was too quick to judge, and just picked the wrong pattern to base my review on. I’m glad I didn’t give up and return it, as my mom had suggested when she saw me on the verge of meltdown after struggling to shape my duck for nearly 45 minutes.

Taking this into consideration, I think I will give it a final grade of 4/5 stars. I highly recommend it for beginners; Even the newest knitters will be able to follow the simple instructions and basic techniques.

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Clowning Around

Another attempt out of The World of Knit Toys. I like this one a bit better, as it was much less frustrating to shape. It was just knit flat and then stuffed and sewn together, very simple and fairly rewarding.

I didn’t like how they gave it that ugly embroidered mouth, so I left it out, but under-stuffed it a little to give it a little kisser. Oh, and I decided to omit the bottom fin, since it would just get in the way / look funny, or you would just never even see it.

My little cousin absolutely adores the movie Finding Nemo, so I’m thinking that I’ll save it as a birthday or holiday gift for her.

Hannah (BitterSweet)1 Comment

Hooked!

For the longest time, I was one of those snobby knitters, who refused to accept crochet into the spectrum of yarn-arts, and was absolutely repulsed to discover that a pattern I had just been drooling over, was in fact crochet. Out of no where, it seemed like everywhere I turned, the crochet patterns I found were actually just… lovely. And it only became harder to stay firm in my belief that knitting was the only way to go once I discovered amigurumi.

Don’t misunderstand I love knitting to death and I like to think that it is my soul’s true crafty calling, but even an old dog can learn new tricks, right?! So, instead of ogling more lovely crochet and cursing the craft because I simply can’t follow it, I decided to get off my ass and learn for once and for all.

Unfortunately, this occurred while I was rotting away in that shitty hospital, with no instructions or people to help. I had no clue what the hell I was doing with my little aluminum hook. My Nana came to visit once and showed me a scallop stitch, (Way to scare the crap out of me! I didn’t follow any of it!) but that only left me making what I call “finger hats.” Trying to crochet in a circle, I end up with a curled edge and a half-egg sort of shape, which could have made lovely little finger puppets, I suppose. Nonetheless… that had not been what I was hoping to make. And for a while, it was my end product every single time.

Finally, after a week or two of bullshitting around like that, I realized that needed to actually increase to keep it from curving under. What a novel idea! So here is what I finally made; My very first crocheted piece!

Fried eggs, anyone?

I was completely ecstatic – I had really learned how to crochet on my own! But upon closer look… the stitches don’t look quite right. That’s because… they aren’t really single crochet.

Damn! I think I may have been making slip-stitches all the way around instead!

Thankfully, I was finally able to purchase The Happy Hooker by Debbie Stoller, so now I can see the error in my.. er, egg. I have never laid eyes on more comprehensive instructions or attractive glossy photos. I want to make every single pattern in that book, despite my nonexistent skill level at crochet. Honestly though, I would have never figured it out at all without this godly piece of writing, and I highly, highly recommend it to every one else out there… Even knitters.

Hannah (BitterSweet)2 Comments