Book Review: Freeform Knitting and Crochet

There's a new book that's hot off the press called, "Freeform Knitting and Crochet" by Jenny Dowde, and I have a copy in my hot, little hands!  Let the drooling begin!

  For several weeks, members of the online freeform group have done nothing but rave about this book.  And so, I decided I needed to get it and check it out myself, and I'm glad it did.  It arrived in yesterday's mail ... I'm astonished that B&N got it to me so fast!  Whoo Hoo!  

If you're not familiar with what freeform is, then let this be your formal introduction.  Journal Reader, meet freeform.  Freeform, meet my Journal Readers.  There, now that that's out of the way, it's time to learn a bit of what freeform is so we can get back to this new book I'm enjoying...  

 Freeform is also known as scrumbling ... in a nutshell, it's a method of taking your fiber and breaking all the rules.  You can mix your colors, your stitches, your fibers, and your directions to create truly unique pieces of art.  James Walters & Silva Cosh are the "God Parents" or "Grand Parents" of the freeform movement that began many years ago; only now is it catching on like wildfire.   

Jenny's book pays tribute to Margaret Hubert (www.margarethubertoriginals.com) -- who happens to be one of the ladies that helped introduce me to this concept. The other lady, my first impression of freeform, was through Prudence Mapstone (www.notjustknitting.com) when she visited NYC a few years ago.  

So, now, here I sit, leafing through this book and I can see it's going to be a long-term love affair.  Jenny discusses what it means to "scrumble," discusses the basics of color theory (which is a huge section of the book!), and offers "instructions" on various projects to get you started.  There's a list of suggested reading, and a page dedicated to sources -- how delightful!  

 If you're looking to learn new things about crochet too, then you may want to consider adding this book to your personal library too. (for more information, you can click onto the image & it will take you to the B&N website where I do most of my book shopping).  I know I'm going to enjoy this book for years to come.

Passing On Family Traditions

Yesterday I spent the afternoon with one of the mothers I met through my kids school.  While our kids played in the sprinkler together, we sat out side watching -- and crocheting.

Cindy is hoping to keep a family tradition alive after the passing of her beloved Mother-In-Law this past spring.  It seems that her MIL would crochet slippers for the entire family and give them out every year at Christmas.   When I learned how close Cindy was to her, and that she had no clue how to make slippers, I presented her with a little gift.  Yes, it was a pattern book on slippers, and I told her I'd help her if she needed it.

So here we sat, enjoying the great outdoors, going over how to read printed instructions.  Cindy knew how to crochet, but she didn't know the names of the stitches she was creating.  But we soon fixed that.  Before long, she was increasing, decreasing, and whipping around (man! she's a fast crocheter!) so that by the time we were ready to leave, she had one slipper nearly complete.  At the rate she's going, I have no doubt that she'll be able to carry on the slipper tradition!

Her oldest son, a fourth grader, kept checking up on us.  At one point I asked him if he'd like to learn.  He asked, "Is it hard to do?"  I said, "No. It just takes practice, and all that it is, really, is a series of loops built upon other loops."

So later, just before we left, he asked his mother if he can learn too.  She looked at him and said she'd teach him after she was done with her slippers.  She asked him what he'd like to make -- a scarf perhaps?  He shrugged his shoulders and said, "I don't know, but that sure looks like fun." 

Not wanting to miss an opportunity to encourage a youngster to pick up the hook, I told them about how a local store has some camouflage yarn ... perhaps he'd be interested in getting a skein to make his first scarf. 

... it looks promising.  J

My nephew, also a fourth grader, IM'ed me this morning (Instant Messaged) and we got to chatting about crochet.  I knew my mother had taught him how, and so I inquired on how he was doing with it.  He said to me that he's ready to learn more.  Hmmmmmm ... one of my local stores is having a sale on pattern books this week ... I think I'll pay them a visit and see if there's anything "boy" oriented I can get to surprise him with ...

It's Not Fair

It's not fair.

This past weekend I've had time to ogle over the latest issue of Bead & Button, and of course I'm very pleased that once again they've included a beautiful crochet project -- in fact, it's pictured right on the front cover, and of course, I want to make it! (If you're interested in the magazine, click onto the image & it will lead you to magazinevalues -- it's where I get most of my subscriptions at a fraction of the regular rates)

Then, I received an Instant Message yesterday from Rose. She said at one point in our conversation, "I put all my WIPs in one container and I'm resolved to complete them."

I replied, "...and they all fit in one container????!"  Oh, I was so amazed!

Nope, it's not fair that there's just not enough hours in the day to do each and every project that I dream up, run across, or am inspired by. (lol)  In all fairness though, I have been working on finishing up many of the WIPs I have (WIPs, by the way are "Works in Progress") and I find this is a great feeling.

But, I'm still curious though on how is it possible that she got all her WIPs to fit in one container?  I look at my WIPs and wonder if such a container exists that they all can fit in...

Then there's more unfairness ... give the journal, "Have you any Wool?" (link is to the left) a visit and you'll find that she's put images up of her work room. Oh man! (excuse my excessive drooling) -- she has a room to work in!   I've only had dreams of such a room, and now Rose, the lady I mentioned earlier, tells me that she too, may have such a room now that her daughter is off to college -- and my own mother tells me she too, now has such a room!  OK, where is this bandwagon?? I want to jump on!  <<grins>>

Ladies & gents, I raise my hook and salute those of you that have few WIPs and a room of which to work upon them.  For now, I'll get back to work in my WIPs and dream of such a work space. J

More Ribbons

As long as I was having fun putting together the ribbon images from the CraftAdventure, I thought I'd add an entry that showed the Ribbons I won from last weekend.

If you're interested in seeing the "Wedding Traditions" pillow & amulet bag closer, you'll want to visit the website, "http://www.darana.org/gallery/crochetwithdee"

I'll be trying my hand at drawing figures today ... I'll be using them for the "design your own poncho" workshop.  ...and, if DH can get my new PC up & running again (it crashed about two weeks ago), then I can get back to working on my fall/winter class schedule.  But of course, I need to get my DH to stop doing cartwheels -- he's still celebrating with my DD about her ribbons from yesterday!  (LOL)

Audio entry

It was a very "hot" time at the CraftAdventure ... so much to see, so much to do, and lots of sweat! (LOL)

I've edited this entry to add a few images of the items that ribboned in the Crochet category.

Enjoy!

Road Trip!

Today is the BIG DAY ... The CraftAdventure

   What is the CraftAdventure?

The CraftAdventure is a yearly event that celebrates and showcases artwork, including crochet, in 25 different categories. Items that are judged that won ribbons will be on display during what is known as The Big E -- the ninth largest state fair in the United States. This year, they have the American Spirit and Ground Zero Quilts on display. To learn more, you can visit their website (just click onto the image on the right) ... or GO!

My group will be there in just a few hours ... we'll be the ones with the purple T-shirts on, having fun with yarn.

See you there! :)

Hey, it's Featured!

I've spent the day fighting with my DSL connection ... decided to go with dial-up this evening and found that my Journal is featured under AOL's keyword: Books for an entry I did in July.

(It's not the best picture of me ... it was taken at the CGOA Conference during the "height" of my back pain.  I'm wearing one of Prudence Mapstone's gorgeous freeform works)

Tomorrow, which is only 44 minutes away, is a big day.  My crochet group and I will be headed to the CraftAdventure in West Springfield, MA, to see how we judged, and more importantly, to do a crochet demonstration.  I hope to do a "live" audio report, so check back often.