:: aavrooman ::

Yarn Skills of the Year

In December of 2008, I learned how to single crochet. This was probably quite frustrating for my mother who kept trying to yank the yarn out of my hands to let her just do it right. Apparently, I didn’t hold the yarn the right way or wrap it around my finger correctly to “feed” it to the stitches. I held firm though, and refused to let her take over. Please don’t judge her though. As someone who has a tiny amount of computer knowledge, I completely understand the frustration of watching someone fumble around clicking the screen, not using keyboard shortcuts, and generally “doing it wrong.”

This is supposed to be a post about new skills from the past year, but 2008 was several years ago. How is that relevant?! Well, because after making the iPod cover I was working on that Yule, I pretty much put the hooks and needles into storage and didn’t pull them back out until September of 2010. What prompted this? Well, as said in a previous post, I wanted to crochet a panda amigurumi. I found a free pattern, did a Google search for “how to crochet” and started off on the Panda Project.

Panda Amigurumi

It was slow going at first. The worst part was losing count of the stitches since working in a circle doesn’t give one a frame of reference for a beginning and an end. I’m sure there is a way to actually figure this out, but at that point I had not. So, I made lots of notes and would only work a single full round at a time, pencil out the round on the pattern, then move on to the next one. I’m sure there are mistakes in there somewhere, but the panda ended up looking pretty good and I’ve heard no complaints, so in my mind, he’s perfect. I’m guessing markers would help but I really don’t know how to use those either. Perhaps affixing a safety pin to the stitch from which to count might help. If you more experienced crocheters have any advice, I’d love to hear it!

Skill up #1: Learned to crochet in a round!

Even better was that I was invited to a crafting party. It was nice to talk to everyone, but my lack of attention to what I was doing meant I kept having to rip and start over. The lovely hostess noticed and asked me what I was working on. She then proceeded to tell me about the “magic ring” technique. Soon after that, I was given Creepy Cute Crochet by Christen Haden as a present. I had a bit of difficulty following the directions for the magic ring so it was back to Google. Soon enough, I had figured that part out as well and it was much easier than beginning the round traditionally.

Skill up #2: Learned to begin a round via the magic ring!

Working through a couple of the patterns in Creepy Cute I found myself confronted with double and triple crochet. I had downloaded a how to guide from Lion (download printable .pdf) and that gave me the general idea. By the time I actually needed to work the stitches though, I was visiting my mother so she showed me how. What really amused me was that she’s been working with those stitches almost exclusively for so long that I had to show her how to single crochet! It all comes back around. (To be fair, she would have figured it out without me, but it was nice to be able to just show her immediately.)

Skill up #3: Learned to double and triple crochet!

Overall, I’m happy that I learned new stitches and techniques, but I’m most proud of actually finishing several projects and being able to give them to friends.

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Tags: 2KCBWDAY2, amigurumi, crochet, Knitting and Crochet Blog Week, panda, skills, yarn

A Tale of Two Yarns: Sparklie and Acrylic

wee cthulhu

Should Sparklie Snag?
Short answer: No!

For one of my projects, I needed green yarn and came across some sale priced sparklie yarn. I was a bit hesitant because I wondered how the thread of sparkle would work when I got down to crocheting. Turns out, it really wasn’t a hindrance at all. What a nice surprise!

To be fair, there were a few moments where my crochet hook caught the thread of sparkle instead of the yarn and it is not quite as forgiving as the yarn itself, but for the most part I had no troubles.

The sparkle really added something to wee cthulhu and I’m thinking that something is cute, not creepy.

Pattern from Creepy Cute Crochet by Christen Haden.

Is acrylic all bad?

With the trend toward all things green and natural, I’m still sticking with acrylic yarn for now. Why?

• Inexpensive: Although I’ve knitted and crocheted before, I only have a few fully finished projects. Since I know myself well enough to realise I won’t keep up crazed stitch fever forever, it makes more sense for me to invest in something less expensive.
• Type of Project: My project line up mostly includes amirigumi. While I’m sure their look might be improved by natural fibers, I’m happy with the way the ones I’ve made with acrylic have turned out. They are all for adults who are less likely to be snuggling with them and more likely to display them as decoration.
• Durability: I’m planning to make an afghan for a friend who is a notorious quilt killer. (Hi Muffiny!) I would be horrified if I invested a bundle of money into natural fiber yarn only to see the end creation ruined after one wash. I want him to be able to use the afghan and not worry about special care instructions. Easy washing is key here!
• Not all acrylics are created equal: I have tried different acrylics. The worst was a soft white Red Heart Super Saver, which is super scratchy. Oddly enough, the same yarn in black is much softer. I’ve also picked up a bunch of the baby acrylics, which tend to feel super soft.

For a great article on the pros and cons of acrylic, check out Knitting Dragonflies’ Acrylic Yarns: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

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Tags: 2KCBWDAY1, acrylic, crochet, yarn