Widen the crochet horizons

Now it has been almost 6 months, which is definitely not a long time, since I first started crocheting seriously. My first try at crochet was when I was a teenager and was awed by my mom’s neatness and synchronized hand movements which made this beautiful fabric come out of it. My first serious project was the filet crochet kind. Seeing that it took a long time before you could actually see the design taking shape. I read somewhere that crochet thread is not the best way to start learning crocheting. Now I know why. Not only does it take a while to get used to but is also difficult to see the individual stitches.

The snowflake filet crochet table runner

After that when I started a project with Hook H and Yarn, it was like working with a magnifying glass. Everything is a 10 times larger and easier to visualize the pattern and even individual stitches. However, I love working with crochet thread and will keep doing so. it has an elegant and a delicate look to it. I learnt this from the Doily and coasters project which turned out to be a beautiful doily.

My flow from Thread to yarn and back to thread

My projects are whatever I feel when I reach to the store. I usually go to the store to get materials for one project and end up buying stuff for a completely different one. I have been sort of fluctuating between yarn and thread (as you can see in the above picture. I don’t think I could choose one or the other. I like alternating them.

My next 2 projects (here is a sneak peek of the first one) are with acrylic yarns (at least that’s the plan). They are both afghan patterns. The one I am working on right now is a shell afghan and will be completed soon. And may be another doily in between.

I personally feel that every project is different in that it has its own pros and cons, including the stitches, the thread and hooks, the texture and loads of other factors. I love each project just for all those things that make its completion a lot more rewarding. I like this stage of learning crochet where I can try all different things without restricting myself to something specific.

Shore your stories about widening your crochet horizon by trying something new. Do you have any preference for thread or yarn for crocheting? Thank you for stopping by.

Tranquility

I named it so because it really brings me the much-needed peace and calmness every time. This project happened for mother’s day. I wanted to make little motifs to make them a part of a card for my mom. However, I thought I should make the complete doily and more such motifs that complement the doily as coasters. I really liked this pattern as it consists of close stitches which make the doily firm and the stitches stay in place.

Doilies make excellent center pieces for coffee tables or dining tables. These can also be used at the base of a vase or some antique artifact on the table. The color and material (glass/wood) of the table will greatly determine the color thread to be used for the doily. Typically, pastels are used as the details of the pattern are enhanced in a darker background of wood. However, other darker colors can be used for edging and some other rows for highlighting them (in this case I did the 4-dc popcorn rows in a different color). I had some shaded purple thread left since my Beautiful bird filet project which I could use to make a complete doily and 4 coasters.

The pattern for this elegant doily came from the book, Absolutely Gorgeous Doilies by Patricia Kristoffersen and Leisure Arts, which is a wonderful collection of doily patterns. This one is the Pineapple Wheel.

Tranquility WIP
This was when the doily was in progress. In order to make the coasters I just added a couple more rows to this motif.

 

  

  Materials:

Aunt Lydia’s Classic crochet thread size 10 (Cream)

1 skein, 350 yards

Some shaded purples for few rows (did it with left over thread from a previous project)

1.5mm steel hook

 

 

 

 

 

 

A doily of firsts:

1. Changing colors: This was the first time I encountered changing colors of thread. For that, I simply took a loop of a different color thread through the loop of the existing color. When I need to use the other color again in the next couple of rounds, I did not fasten off the threads but I used them from the previous row. This made it really easy to change colors for every row. When I was one using that color thread, I left a long (about 6 inches) tail of the thread and fastened them off the last thing before finishing. It is a little bit of a hassle to keep changing colors after every row, but the results are beautiful. This is commonly used while crocheting Afghans and throws.
2. Pineapples: I loved working this doily as it had these firm stitches which kept them in place. The pineapples made of 3-dc popcorn, turned out to be really firm and neat. This stitch also gives the doily a nice 3-Dimensional feel and looks very delicate at the same time.
3. Doily and its coasters: This is the first time I made a doily. Moreover it is a first time I made little motifs that I think will look great as coasters. I haven’t come across this idea before but I think it is nice to complement a doily with 4 coasters. This may be easier to do for a round or square doily but may not apply for shapes like oval.

Completed Tranquility

I think doilies make not only great decorations for the house but also great gifts. Even if there are any spills or stains, these cotton doilies can be hand washed and blocked to retain their shape and size.

Doily and its coasters

Share your doily crocheting experiences with me, and if you liked the idea of making little coasters for big doilies. Thank you so much for stopping by.