beginner crochet

If this year’s Fall weather is going to all be like what we’ve experienced so far, then it’s going to be wet and dark. That means I’ll need all the perkiness I could find to make sure the days are not too much of a drag!

I’m not particularly a flower lover but I’ve always wanted to know how to do the crocodile stitch in crochet. Since I’m home this week, I found an easy pattern — the Croco Flower that gave me an idea of the concept. The instructions looked kind “say what!” to me when I first looked at them, but the project turned out to be super easy, even for a beginner like me.

I ended up with the below — a little Autumn flower that would go well with my jackets! A kind of “Spring Flower In Autumn”! A kind of “Bloom” for the darker days of Fall!

I’m not sure that the yarn I used was the best one. I’m not sure if I’ll ever use this yarn again. It’s some Red Heart Fiesta in Coffee (yes … go ahead and curse me yarn snobs, but I do use acrylic .. 😛 LOLOL). The plying with the multi-coloured gold thread makes the stitches somewhat indistinguishable, but not enough to blind from the overall crocodile stitch effect. That makes the project not so much of a total bust!

All that’s left to do is to add a felt backing and attach a pin, then I’m ready to go!!!

Now that I understand the concept, this cowl is my next stop!

Project Details

Pattern: Croco Flower
Designer: Bonita Patterns
Yarn Used: Red Heart Fiesta — Coffee Colourway
Modifications: None
Rating: Easy. Beginner skill level.
Additional Comments: Will make again in plain yarn colour.

This “trend” started somewhere!

It started with the housewives, crafters, and home-makers trading secrets over tea or lemonade. Or sometimes preparing for a long winter with little to no resources. While rocking sleeping babies and keeping an eye on the mischievous munchkins. Through the fences, church groups and home economics classes. Do they even have those classes anymore?

All that trial and error, intuitiveness, secret sharing and creativity rolled down to give us the inspiration and the instructions that we, in these times, now embrace as knitters and crocheters. Heck, the same applies for every other creative/home-making endeavor.

With all the modern day trail-blazers, it’s hard sometimes to appreciate the foundation. But their work can be found and you don’t even have to look too hard. You’ll find it in your grammy’s old work-basket, your auntie’s bookshelf, at flea markets or in thrift stores and sometimes, you find their secrets for pennies.

In finding foundation for pennies — I lucked out recently. A friend’s thrifting got me this beauty for .75c! Yes … that’s .75c!!! Less than a dollar. It cost her more to ship it to me than it cost to purchase it but I’m glad she sent it.

She sent me this beauty: Better Homes & Gardens Treasury of NeedleCrafts. 480 pages of foundation.

My publication copy is from 1982. Even being dated 30 years, this beauty is packed with inspiration galore. It’s packed to the gills with knitting, applique, patchwork, crocheting, quilting, embroidery, rug making and needlepoint goodies. I’ve already found my first project — Grandmother’s Flower Garden Afghan.

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My W.I.P. this week is a practice flower motif. It’s my first go at clusters and I only did three rounds, but I’m ready!!!

My motif doesn’t look like much now but I’m gamed and ready! This afghan is going to be beautiful! I love the size, the texture and the opportunity to personalize. The hardest thing to do now is to choose my colour choice! With 271 motifs, it’s going to take me a while, but I can’t wait!

In addition to this new project, I’m still working on my granny square cushion. My goal is to complete it by the end of August.

So cheers to old skool inspiration!!! What are you all working on?