Another relaxing
week at Brick Yard Farm in Banham, Norfolk has spawned THREE throws! How did I
manage to work so fast? The biggest crochet hook in the Kingdom, that's how!
 | |
| Yes, it IS a crochet hook - not a broom handle! |
Bethan and I went to a craft fair at Excel at the beginning of April (using free tickets from my mum's WI) and we encountered this outsize knitting stand that got me all excited and unnecessary. I just HAD to have theeee biggest hook - even if only for a laugh, but actually, I have really REALLY enjoyed using it.
A call for
submissions from Inside Crochet Magazine provided the inspiration and impetus,
along with a colour palette and a special request for Tunisian and/or
Broomstick patterns and off I toodled with two suitcases - the larger one
containing the yarns of course.
I started with the
'1 Tunisian Simple Stitch, 1 Tunisian Pearl Stitch' combo I recently discovered and it was very successful indeed (see above) -
more so, in fact than my second go, in my opinion, in which I created stripes
in a plain Tunisian Simple Stitch (see piccy with Gabriel modelling).For the third one I decided to stick exclusively with Tunisian Knit stitch and try to curb my tendency to over complicate things. When I see those throws in the shops I always prefer the simplest, uncluttered designs, so I don't know why I have to keep elaborating when I'm making something myself. This recently acquired self-awareness has stood me in good stead as I recently completed another cushion cover in a straightforward chevron stitch which looks great.
 |
| The pink one is the Tunisian Knit Stitch in Big Softie |
I also started a
Tunisian Triangle Tote which I can continue on my tube journeys as it is a more
manageable size project, with a 6mm hook and DK yarns. I bought the lining
fabric at the craft fair as well. And I bought the polkadot leather handles in Jarrolds in Norwich (love it!). More on this another time....
If Inside Crochet are interested you could find the patterns coming your way. If not, I'll put them on ETSY anyway!
I'm missing my Tuesday night ladies at the moment because I agreed to teach at Stag and Bow in Forest Hill for a two night course, immediately after we'd been away at Easter. Still, the Stag and Bow crowd are very nice too. We did bobbles, puffs and popcorns with a bit of Up and Down stitch last night, and next week we plan to cover fans/shells and the almond stitch. They're all quite fast workers so we should be able to fit it all in. And for the first time ever, I gave them some homework! The chevron stitch. I hope it doesn't drive them crazy!!!
I'm missing my Tuesday night ladies at the moment because I agreed to teach at Stag and Bow in Forest Hill for a two night course, immediately after we'd been away at Easter. Still, the Stag and Bow crowd are very nice too. We did bobbles, puffs and popcorns with a bit of Up and Down stitch last night, and next week we plan to cover fans/shells and the almond stitch. They're all quite fast workers so we should be able to fit it all in. And for the first time ever, I gave them some homework! The chevron stitch. I hope it doesn't drive them crazy!!!
Last time I taught it was at the Knitting and Crochet Guild last month but I did have TWENTY students in a small room, and NO visualizer. Tricky, but we did OK. :)
