Saturday, April 9, 2011

my first crochet project

Not too long ago, I got the urge to learn to crochet. As with any newly learnt craft skill I quickly became obsessed, and approached it the usual way. Dive in head-first, avoid patterns, and learn only what I need to complete the first thing I decide to make. I really can't recommend this approach at all, it has resulted in far too many UFO's (unfinished objects) over the years! It is only thanks to the craft itself here that I did actually finish my first ever crochet project. Crochet has an addictive quality, and as my first project was granny squares, the bite size pieces give you lots of opportunities to feel a sense of accomplishment. The first square - AWESOME! First ten, YAY! A neat stack you can photograph, Woo Hoo! and so on.

This project came about because I am an awfully slow knitter. I have only ever finished simple scarves, and they take me about two months. Because of this I ended up with a lovely stash of yarn that clearly would be sitting there for years waiting to be knitted up.

For this project I went with some yummy Twilley's of Stamford cotton. I had only the vaguest of plans at this stage - perhaps it would be a little sofa throw? I didn't know how far the yarn would go until I had used a whole ball.


Oh the sense of accomplishment! My first little stack of granny squares! Now we have to fast forward this bit of the project, because I forgot to take any more pictures. I forged ahead and simply turned all the yarn into granny squares. I tossed about ideas like, should I buy more yarn and make it a nice big throw? How was I going to join the squares together? What colour should I use to join them, now that I've used up all the yarn?

Then I realised I'd better keep it short and sweet, and get something finished. Abandoning any plans to make anything large, after playing with the squares for a while I decided on one big cushion. So I just started sewing them all together, using my crochet hook. Now I really wish I had seen this tutorial over at Attic24 before I rushed into this step. Because then you wouldn't be able to see the joining yarn! Live and learn!


Fortunately I did see this tutorial at Attic24 just before I finished sewing the squares together. It inspired my final decision to make two cushions with envelope style linen backs. Because I couldn't see how I would finish the cushion quickly and simply if the whole thing was crocheted front and back, and still be able to remove the insert! I also decided the crochet would need a piece of backing fabric, it was too gappy to simply pop in any old insert.


And once again - as I rushed through the final stages we go from the above just sewn together cushion front to...


The final cushions! I did so many things wrong it's best you didn't see all that inbetween stuff anyway!
 And the backs with their overlap envelope opening, easy peasy with no buttons, snaps, ties or zips.


I do love them, they are snuggly and feel lovely and huggable - with zero itch factor for this family full of wool-itchers. But most of all I am just so chuffed to have finished them! I have started my next project, initially learning nothing from my previous mistakes as I plowed straight in to my cotton stash. I will tell you all about it very soon, and you'll be proud of me - I have started planning how it's going to work!

9 comments:

  1. Oh well done Michelle - they look awesome!

    I too recently started teaching myself & went at it by your method - ie learn enough to do what I wanted. You got further than me though!

    You should be pleased with yourself :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. They look beautiful! I have some squares that I'd love to make into a cushion but I'm too nervous about putting them together. I might try your way cos it's so neat!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Did you just whip stitch your squares together?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Rach - yes, I think I did, but I used my hook to pull the thred rather than a needle, and I did it with front faces together, stitching through the touching loops. It should have been back faces together stitching the touching loops.

    ReplyDelete
  5. They look great Michelle! I love the colours-well done :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. wow! I am in awe, I cannot crochet to save my life.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I would love to know what pattern or stitch you used. Those squares are adorable!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks Becky! Unfortunately I didn't follow a specific pattern, being a bit crochet-pattern-illiterate. I reffered to a number of online sources for making a basic granny square, and after a little trial and error just winged it! I should post all the sources I used, and the method I use to finish my last corner.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I can understand that...i dont follow patterns either, only because I didnt have the patience to learn. I wanted to jump right into crochet. I saw this picture and have to make this for my mother in law. I drew her name for xmas and we are making things this year. I love love love this...Im sure I can look up granny square and do my own research as well. Great job though...i will have to make one for myself too! hahah

    ReplyDelete

Love to hear what you think!

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails