The journey of a Thousand miles…

 

I’ve decided to start a journey & I don’t know how long it will take. It will be complex & time consuming, definitely a learning process, & possibly never be finished…

I’m starting a “Life Tapestry”. Loosely based off the ancient tapestries & embroideries done by our ancestors. 

If you’ve ever seen pictures of the Oseberg tapestry or the Bayeux Tapestry you might know what I’m talking about. 

The funny thing is I don’t really embroider. I know maybe 1-2 stitches & that’s it. Usually the things I make are quite simple & utilitarian. I’m a bit lazy when it comes to the upkeep of super pretty, fancy fragile things. 

But for some reason this project really appeals to me. 

I don’t expect it to be perfect, none of my work ever is. I might make 1 picture & never touch it again… but the whole point of this project is the journey… My journey. 

Greetings & apologies

Greetings.

Firstly I want to apologise for not posting what I said I was going to regarding the “yarn around the world”. I still think it’s a great idea,  but I started doing it not thinking just how involved it would be. Unfortunately life has been extremely busy & combined with family illness, that has left little time to research & post here. 

I have occasionally been posting updates on n Instagram & Facebook (@crispeycreations on Instagram & Crispey Creations on Facebook). 

I have been making things in any spare time I have, & at the moment I’m participating in a Spin & Make A Long hosted by “The Knitting Expat” & “Babbles Yarns” on Ravelry. 

I’m also hoping to publish a crochet pattern later this year,  but we shall see how that goes! 

Thank you all for your patience. 

Yarn around the World

Ever since I was a small child I have been interested in studying & learning. And there are so many things I still don’t know or understand. But I want to learn. 

A little over 2 years ago I had the desire to learn how to crochet & for a while I was happy with just doing a few simple stitches, then someone showed me there was more to learn & that I could learn it! 

Since then I have taken interest & studied not only new (to me) crochet stitches, I’ve dyed yarn, learned to process raw fleece into roving & spun that into yarn, I’ve learned some simple knit stitches & I want to learn to weave as well. 

But in all of this I also have the desire to know of the history of yarn, how do other people in other countries make fabric, textiles, how do they knit, or spin, or weave? Some countries in our world have been making fabric since before history was written, some tiny communities in remote areas still make clothing the way their ancestors did hundreds of years ago (or longer). I want to learn about these things! One of my goals for this year is to study & learn about the Yarn industry in our world,  both past & present. And I hope to share what I learn here, & maybe one day someone else will learn something new too. 

DM3 (Diamond Mesh Crochet stitch, chain 3 version)

Many people ask me how I make the items I do, or how I do the various stitches. I decided to video myself crocheting the DM3 (Diamond Mesh stitch, chain 3 version) it’s one of my favourite stitches & I use it a lot.

Basically the stitch is formed by slip stitches & chains. You can do it using any odd number, my personal favourite is chain 3. And when you you need to turn your work you chain 2 extra (eg in my version you chain 5 to turn), turn your work & slip stitch into the middle stitch of the last chain (in the previous row).

I have done a quick video of me crocheting some DM3 (note in this video I do “yarn under”)


https://youtu.be/caSIPDk0_EY

Simple fingerless crochet gloves

Crochet simple open hand gloves.

I used Australian DK weight yarn (200m/100g) in 2 colours. 

 5mm hook

Abbreviations: 

Slst+ch1= Slip stitch + chain 1

Dcblo= Double crochet back loop only

This pattern is worked in the round, using a spiral method (meaning that the end of the previous row/round is next to the beginning of the next row/round) I’ve found using a stitch marker every 3-4rows helps. 

Base/Row 1:  using colour A 

Chain 45, join chain. 

Row 2 - 5: Slst+ch 1 into every second stitch

Row 6 - 9: Using colour B,

Dcblo into every second stitch 

Row 10: chain 17, skip 6 chains & Dcblo into 7th chain. then Dcblo 30

Row 11 - 14: Dcblo into every stitch 

Row 15: Using colour A

Slst+ch1 into every stitch

(the stitch count should be 40 stitches)

Row 16-25: Slst+ch1 into every second stitch, bind off when you reach the length you desire.