Although I've been told that you can poke holes in the fabric with your hook, I bought a kit with pre-poked flannel from a local fabric store that specializes in this kind of project. I didn't buy my thread there, though, which may have been a mistake. I don't really care for this shade of green, and don't feel that the thread really matches the fabric. I started out with white thread, size 20, with a size 7 hook, because I like using thinner thread for a lacier look:
Well, it looked just awful. Nothing like the picture in my kit. But I persevered:
But it still didn't look right. I reviewed the instructions several times, trying to figure out what I was doing wrong. Finally I discovered it! It was so stupid, too--the kind of mistake an experienced crocheter would never have made. I don't know if I can quite explain it, but here goes: The pattern said, for making clusters, that I should yo, insert the hook and draw the thread through, then continue making the rest of the stitch. Well, I should have known--but didn't--that after I first drew the thread through, I needed to then yo again and complete that part of the stitch. Always. In any case, I was so frustrated by the thought of having to re-do it that I took a break and made an Easter wreath:
It was fun, but not quite what I envisioned. A little off balance, and I think the eggs were too large. It was supposed to look like colored eggs in grass.
I returned to the blankets/burp cloths. The crocheting went a lot faster now that I knew what I was doing. I had to change to the green because the thread was thicker (size 10, as the pattern called for). It didn't look as bad as I thought it would, and the edging looked thick and even:
So I ended up happy with the way it turned out.
I've been cleaning my studio and I have so many unfinished projects, I just don't know where to start. I had a tote with an unfinished doily hanging on the closet door, so I grabbed that. I discovered that it was the exact same green thread I had used on the blanket/burp cloths! This is what happens when you buy your thread at Wal-Mart. (We are getting a JoAnn at the end of the month and I cannot wait!) I also discovered three more size 7 crochet hooks in the bag. This made me laugh. I knew this project would take me forever, as I was approaching the outer rounds. But I learned a little something: I took it with me to church one day, because I knew I'd have an hour or more between meetings, but I didn't take the booklet because I was sure I'd never make it to the next round. Well, I had been working on it little by little, and after about 5 minutes of crocheting in the pew, I finished the round and couldn't continue. I've been trying to apply that lesson (you can get a lot done a little at a time & don't assume you won't be moving on to the next step) to my life.
The pattern is called Victorian Lace, and I plan to give this away; I just don't know yet to whom.
I'm also teaching my friend Heather S to tat. I mentioned before that the size 10 thread we were using on our project was a little too large. I got some pearl cotton 8 and that did the trick, and was prettier to boot:
This is Tatted Medallion by Be-Stitched.com.
Finally--I have been on a roll--while DH was having surgery last weekend, I started a cross-stitch project, and finished it on Monday. No pix yet--I need to Finish it and it will be the subject of my next post.
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