Massive catch-up post number two

DISCLAIMER: The following is a dramatic reenactment of the crafts done in the first week-and-a-half of February. Some of the crafts may not have occurred in the exact order stated here, on account of Nicole’s inaccurate memory. Viewer discretion is advised.

Day twenty-four: So, on the first day of February, I finally ventured into the murky waters of crochet.
I started with a chain stitch jewelry project from another of my kits. (This one was my most recent kit, given to me two birthdays ago.) It’s a book called “Spool Knit Jewelry”, but half of the projects are actually crochet.



I made a ring first, determined not to make yet another bracelet.



Then I made a bracelet. What can I say? I wasn’t done with the technique.

My main problems with crochet so far have been 1) I don’t know how to hold the hook, and 2) Because of that I can barely handle the yarn. But, following the instructions, I managed to get the hang of making the stitches. What helped me the most, I think, was tensioning the yarn around my finger like I do when I’m knitting. That way, I couldn’t shift my hands all over the place to get the hook to work. Also, if you’re starting out with crochet I would recommend trying it with elastic cord. The stretch made it so I didn’t have to struggle with inserting the hook or with trying to pull one stitch through another.
One thing that I found annoying was having to pre-string all the beads. With certain knitting projects, however, I’ve used a different technique where you put a bead on the stitch you’re using, so you can bead on the fly. I didn’t do that with this project because I wanted to follow the instructions and wasn’t sure if it would work, but I might try next time.

Day-twenty five:

I decided that, since I had gotten the hang of holding the crochet hook, I could try a harder stitch. I remembered seeing an instructional video on how to make this really pretty bracelet with silky cord, so I got out some cord and hunted down the instructions.
I had to re-watch the video several times, and it took me a while to get it, but here’s the result:



Here's the back:



I’m not actually sure what the stitch pattern is. The video called it “bracket chain”. After a few frustrating false starts, I started to see the pattern appearing and was able to finish it relatively easily. It turned out as well as I’d hoped. I really like the tightness of crochet – its one thing I miss in knitting. Not as keen on actual crocheted fabric, but I like the decorative look for jewelry.

Day twenty-six started the Epic Cardboard Saga:

My mom decided to show me how to make a cardboard flower ornament. It involves cutting flowers out of cardboard, then cutting slits in them so they fit together. Simple, right?



NO. IT INVOLVES GEOMETRY.
Apparently, the flowers need to be exactly the same size or they won’t fit together right. The above picture actually summarizes the process of the first three days. The first day, under my mom’s guidance, I traced many circles using a compass. Then, in a dramatic turn of events, my mom realized the circles were too close together to draw petals onto.

Day twenty-seven was (I think) the continuation of the Epic Cardboard Saga. I gave up on the first circles and traced flowers onto different pieces of cardboard. It was an exciting Saturday.

Day twenty-eight:

This was the first day I went to Michaels to get some new craft supplies. My mission was to get wire, a chain, and some thin ribbon. Instead I made the mistake of wandering into the beading section and getting completely overwhelmed. Must…learn…to make…amazing beaded things…
I stared at some wire, but couldn’t decide on the kind I wanted. (Wire comes in gauges, just like knitted pieces! What’s up with that?) However, I did find the chain and ribbon, the latter of which I used that evening (I think) to make this thing:



It’s a bracelet…kinda. It’s supposed to be sewn together at the ends, but my ribbon was a bit too short so I might have to engineer a strap instead. I made it using this.



It’s a simple box knot (a boondoggle stitch), but working with the ribbon makes it feel more like weaving or folding than knotting. I like the result, although I feel it’s too chunky to wear like a bracelet (maybe a bangle, if it were longer). Making it put me in mind of those springy paper-and-hoop lamps you see in Ikea. One day, when I get a huge ribbon…

Day twenty-nine was another boondoggle project. Making the ribbon box stitch, I remembered how fun it was to make these, so I decided to try a harder one. My goal was to make the tornado stitch, but first I decided to try a simpler stitch, the swirl.



I actually only made one or two stitches on this day. I made it with embroidery floss, which splits and is hard to make boondoggle stitches with. I got frustrated and quit after the first knot, and only came back to it several days later, when I made the rest and added the loop at the top (a piece of red embroidery floss knotted around it. I have no idea how to finish the ends without cutting them…any ideas?). Despite the annoyingness of the embroidery floss, I think it looks pretty cute.
Day twenty-nine was also the continuation of the Continued Epic Cardboard Saga: I started to cut out the traced flowers.



Call me a wimp, but cardboard is really hard to cut (at least with my scissors). Also I have little patience for paper crafts, so there’s that. I cut out rough pieces, but didn’t cut each petal out. No, that would be too much progress. The saga must continue.

Day thirty, one month since I started this project, I embarked on another crochet piece.
I’d come across http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifthis tutorial not too long ago, and I knew I wanted to try it. I got some chain and made…



A bracelet! Kinda. (Again.) I crocheted it really tightly, so it came out a little short. I had lots of chain left over, and I was getting tired of bracelets, so I tried again and made a choker:



The straps are made from macramé square knots.
I love how the yarn and chain compliment each other. I’ve worn it once to a party, and I’m quite proud of it. I think it’s the first D.A.C. item that I’ve actually used!

Days thirty-one and thirty-two are returns to boondoggle. I still wanted to try the tornado stitch, so first I made a quad knot piece to get used to handling so many strings:



Then, the next day, I switched to the tornado stitch.



I used waxed cotton thread instead of embroidery floss, and I find it works a lot better because it’s stiff and doesn’t split. The texture comes out quite nice too.
Yet again, it’s too short to be a bracelet (the green string has already run out), but a bracelet wasn’t really my intention. I think I’m going to make it into a keychain.
Day thirty-two was also when I went back and added to the day-twenty-nine swirl stitch.

Day thirty-three:
I was getting sick of staring at my failed wrap bracelet from day thirteen, so I undid it, looked up the proper technique, and made a proper wrap-cross bracelet:



I know it’s not that impressive, but I like it a lot. I managed to make the wraps tight and even, and the crosses look pretty cool. Maybe one day I’ll actually try hair wraps.

Day-thirty four was the Continuation of the Continued Continuation of the Epic Cardboard Saga (try saying that ten times). I actually cut out some of the flowers. No picture because it’s not that exciting.
(Can you tell I use this craft as a fallback? My excuse is that Saturdays Are Busy.)

Day thirty-five:
Since it was a Sunday, I embarked on a project of impressive magnitude!



It’s going to be knotted. Fifty-two strings (actually, most of them are doubled, so one-hundred-and-six strings). Made using a “multi-color alphabet” technique, which obviously I’ve never tried before. I spent Sunday reading tutorials and cutting/organizing the strings…before I ran out of yellow.

The next day (day thirty-six) I bought extra yellow, finished organizing, and started knotting the thing:



It’s going to be a while. I’m kind of excited – I’ve always wanted to try a huge project like this, but was afraid of getting tangled. Not to mention the question of what would you do with such a wide…bracelet? Cuff? Wall art? But now…why not? I’ve made big knitted things before (right now I’m making a blanket). This isn’t THAT wide (okay, it is).



Wish me luck.