Darla Fanton

Archive for the ‘Design In Progress’ Category

My newest crochet necklace is finished.  I have several versions of this necklace already in my jewelry wardrobe. In earth tones, in purple, in aqua - and even one in black and shades of pink, that I suppose I could wear with my new black swing jacket and black and white slacks.  But it is much more fun to sit down and in just a few hours have a new necklace to go with the new jacket.

I particularly enjoy creating jewelry using glass or gemstone chips in combination with seed beads. This necklace combines glass, snow obsidian, quartz, and black onyx chips along with seed and tri beads.  Although all the beads are black, white or shades of grey, the flash of my camera appears to have brought out some bronze and blue highlights as well.

I am scheduled to teach “Two Bead Bracelet” on Oct 3 at the Stitching Jubilee in King of Prussia, PA and at the Knitting Bee in Portland, OR on Dec 4th. Included in the class is information on expanding the bracelet design into a necklace of any length desired as well as some optional finishing ideas, such as adding a large focal bead.

I hope your creative juices are flowing with crochet jewelry ideas.  I know mine are.  I can’t wait to sit down and design some new jewelry pieces!

Teaching at the upcoming Knit & Crochet Show gave me such a delightful excuse to buy some new clothes.  New clothes gave me such a delightful excuse to sit down with my beads and crochet necklaces to match.  Isn’t it great how that all works out?

I really do enjoy crocheting my own jewelry. Because beads come in an absolutely endless assortment of colors and textures it is so easy to make one-of-a-kind pieces to match any outfit .

I’ll be teaching “Y Wire Crochet Necklace” in Portland on Friday, Sept 12.  I already have three versions of this necklace in pink, blue, and green.  But with a new red jacket what is a gal to do but make another in red?  Crocheting with wire is much easier than many people think and the necklace works up quickly.  This one took me about 2 1/2 hours.

As soon as I get all my class handouts printed, I’ll be sitting down to crochet a different style of necklace to go with my other new jacket.  Stop by in a few days to see that necklace.  Or better yet, catch up with me sometime in Portland.  I’ll be sure to be wearing a crocheted necklace of one type or another.

I think I’ve stumbled across something new about Tunisian Simple Stitch (Tss). Or at least something new about the interaction of Tss and certain yarns.

First, a little background information. I teach crochet at the Knitting Bee and also volunteer as one of the co-leaders one morning a month for the Charity Stitching Circle. The group recently decided to create a community baby afghan with everybody contributing small squares. I volunteered to teach the group Tunisian Crochet. The group selected Berroco(R) Comfort(TM) yarn as their yarn of choice.

I had not previously worked with this yarn. It is soft and yummy and the shop carries a lovely range of pastels that are perfect for this baby afghan. I did not realize just how perfect the choice was until I started working my gauge swatch.

Those of us who have been working with Tunisian crochet for awhile accept the fact that a piece worked entirely in Tss rolls. It is just a characteristic of the stitch. There are ways to control it by working other stitches in conjunction, or adding a border of classic crochet. Blocking can also help - but it is just a given that Tss rolls.

Except it didn’t! I kept waiting for my gauge swatch to roll - didn’t happen. Why? Comfort(TM) is 50% nylon/50% acrylic. My best guess is that it is something about the addition of nylon that counteracts the roll.

This theory seemed to hold up when I purchased a skein of GGH Tara yarn on my next trip to the Knitting Bee. Tara is 72% cotton/28% nylon. As soon as I got home I worked a Tss swatch. Again no roll!

It looks like I have some additional information, as well as some new swatches, to share with students when I teach my Introduction to Tunisian Crochet at the Stitching Jubilee in King of Prussia, PA this fall!

I’m anxious to try swatching additional yarns with nylon content to see if my theory continues to hold up - or is there something else at play here?

I’d love to hear about your experiences using Tunisian simple stitch with yarns that have nylon content.

I kept several things in mind when I was designing this block. I wanted a stitch pattern that I could easily put down and pick back up. Something I could crochet pretty much by feel since it was possible I would be working on it in dimly lit locations. Since it was for a baby afghan I didn’t want a lot of very open spaces for tiny toes and fingers to get caught. (Photo included in yesterday’s post.)

This is still a work in progress so I have not included finishing instructions. I’m not sure yet how I will finish it. That will be determined after I’ve completed the blocks and discover how much and what color yarn I have left. I think I will make 25 blocks - but that is also subject to change. I will let you know how it turns out, but I’m not sure when that will be.

Finished Size of Block (before edging): 7″ x 9″

Materials for one block:
Worsted weight (#4) yarn
approximately 20 yds Color A
approximately 18 yds each Colors B & C
Size I (5.5 mm) crochet hook

Abbreviations:
ch = chain
exsc = extended single crochet - insert hook in designated chain or space, yarn over and draw loop through; yarn over and draw through one loop on hook; yarn over and draw through both loops remaining on hook

Note - Carry unused colors along side edge until needed.

Row 1: With Color A, ch 27; exsc in 3rd ch from hook; *ch 1, skip 1 ch, exsc in next ch; repeat from * across, changing to Color B when drawing through last two loops of final stitch. (13 exsc)

Row 2: Turn, ch 2; *exsc in next ch-1 space, ch 1, skip next st; repeat from * across, ending, exsc in top of turning ch, changing to next color when drawing through final two loops of stitch. (13 exsc)

Rows 3 - 28: Repeat Row 2. Fasten off all colors.

In an earlier post I mentioned that during my travels I work on charity crochet projects. They are usually small projects that are easy to pick up, don’t require a lot of concentration, use up stash yarn (providing an excuse to buy more) and hopefully give the recipient as much joy in the receiving as I had in the making.

Since I will soon be on the way to the Orlando Needlework Show, it was time to rummage in the yarn stash and organize the next project. The Portland CGOA Chapter, Always in Stitches, is making children’s afghans as our Community Project, so I will be working on easily portable 7″ x 9″ blocks. I’ve made a number of these blocks already using various pattern stitches and bright colors and my “always ready to go on a moment’s notice” bag was a little light on yarn.

Sorting through one of the boxes of stash yarn I came across some in white, pastels and a variegated pastel. Perfect for a baby afghan. Plus it provides an excuse for me to work with variegated yarn. You see, I have a fondness for variegated yarn. Always have had. Can’t explain it. Not even going to try to analyze it. I just love working with the stuff.

When designing with variegated yarns I always do a lot of swatching. They can be challenging to work with. Sometimes the color changes create a pleasing pattern all by themselves - sometimes they don’t! I try different approaches….maybe working in the round instead of rows or trying different stitches. Sometimes a small change is all it takes to make a big difference. Another thing that can make a big difference is the solid colors used with the variegated. This project provides an opportunity to illustrate the impact a surrounding color can have.

I have an additional challenge with this project. This is a discontinued yarn, so I’m pretty much limited to what I have in my stash. I could work solid color blocks and edge them with the variegated. But I only have 1 full plus 1 partial skein of variegated (and another partial skein in a different dye lot - How did that happen?). I’m pretty sure that won’t be enough to do the edging and joining. Plus the difference in dye lot of that “odd one” would be too noticeable if I had to add it in right next to the main variegated. I’ve decided to use the variegated by working with three colors per block. I’ll alternate 1 row of variegated with a row each of two other colors and see how many blocks I get. Then I’ll decide if I’m going to do some solid color blocks or some additional blocks of 3 color stripes or…..?

I worked a couple of blocks while I was deciding on an easy stitch pattern. You can see how different this variegated yarn looks just by changing the second color from pink to blue. In both blocks I started with the variegated, the 2nd row is a solid color and the 3rd row is white, repeat that sequence ending with a variegated row. I’m sure changing the second color to yellow will give yet a different look.

This post is getting rather long, so I’ll pop in tomorrow and share the pattern for this block in case you want to crochet a similar charity afghan from your stash yarn. I’m sure somebody in your community would welcome a warm blankie. If you aren’t sure who could use your afghan you might want to start by checking to see if there is a Project Linus Chapter near you.

No matter how often I have taught a particular class I’m always trying to add more information or provide more samples for my students. While preparing to teach at the upcoming Knit and Crochet Show in Oakland, CA I had the perfect opportunity to combine adding class samples with more felting fun.

I thought you might like to see the before and after felting samples for one of the “projects” in my Tunisian Entrelac To Felt or Not - On the Square class. Before felting, the coaster measured 7 1/4 inches square; after felting, 4 1/2 inches.

Originally this wasn’t a project - it was a swatch. Now there is nothing wrong with swatches. I love swatches - for all sorts of reasons. Gauge swatches, color swatches, pattern swatches, drape swatches. I have stacks of swatches. But this swatch told me - more than once - it wanted to be a coaster. It wanted to be a coaster, with options - such as to felt, or not.

Maybe a little background information will explain why I thought of this coaster as a swatch and how it stubbornly insisted it wasn’t.

I felt (no pun intended) I had the perfect project for Part 1, the In the Round portion of Tunisian Entrelac. You can see pictures of both the felted and non-felted bowls for the class here. As I developed Part 2, On the Square, I faced a challenge. I know four different ways to work flat Tunisian Entrelac. Each method handles the edges in a different way. I didn’t want to limit my students to only one method, so how was I going to fit all this information plus explain how to design their own flat projects into a three hour time frame? Swatches rather than projects seemed the way to go. I would provide some patterns that could be felted (or not) for them to work at home to reinforce what they learned in class, but due to the time limitations it would be swatches in class.

At the July Knit and Crochet Show I mentioned that if I hadn’t worked my swatches with cotton yarn I might not have made the connection that Swatch C was perfect for a coaster. One of the students was working Swatch C with wool yarn and a large hook. I wondered aloud if it would felt enough to also be a coaster. I had to agree with her reply, “It is going to be fun to find out.”

As soon as time allowed I decided to have some fun myself with “Swatch C”. I used Cascade 220 yarn for my felted version. It comes in a wide range of gorgeous colors and felts beautifully! After felting, the wool coaster worked with a 10 mm hook is just 1/4 inch larger than the cotton version worked with a 5 mm hook. I wonder if I run it through another wash cycle will it shrink another 1/4 inch? I don’t really care as it makes a great coaster in either size or fiber!

I hope you can join me in Oakland for one (or more) of the six classes I’m scheduled to teach. September 6 is the pre-registration deadline. It is always a good idea to pre-register for classes that interest you. If you wait to register on-site you run the danger of the class either being sold out or cancelled due to lack of pre-registrations.

Yesterday I shared a photo of Spring blossoms and today I’m talking about Fall. Before you decide I’m rushing the seasons let me explain that as a designer I’m always working two (or more) seasons ahead. Periodically I stop by the Pantone® web site to view the upcoming color trends. Today I noticed the Fall 2007 Fashion Color Report was available.

I love this deep, rich palette! I’ve always been fascinated by the psychology of color. How different colors affect our mood. Why we are drawn to certain colors. How we see color differently depending on where we live and our age. If you find this topic interesting you might enjoy Colors For Your Every Mood by Leatrice Eiseman and for information on the relationships between color and knitwear design, The Knitting Experience, Book 3: Color by Sally Melville.

I’m also fascinated by the coincidences in life - yesterday’s walk to the mailbox was rewarded not only with a stop to view the crocus but also a package. Something new to wear. I just couldn’t resist ordering it. I’m so glad I didn’t resist. It fits and I love the colors. This morning I opened the Fall Fashion Report and there are the colors of my new outfit - Purple Wine with touches of Stargazer and Cashmere Rose. Don’t you love those names? No wonder I couldn’t resist!

Excuse me while I go grab some colors and crochet!