Crochet Tablecloths
Making a crochet tablecloth is a lot of work. Most hand-made tablecloths are lace work or filet. The reason that people still make tablecloths by hand in the post-manufacturing age is that you just can’t beat the extravagance or luxury of a hand-made crochet tablecloth. The tablecloth is made to order for the table, is always exactly the right color, pattern and style to suit your taste. Really, the work is worth it.
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July 20, 2007
Crochet Shawls
The art of crocheting is a hobby that has been enjoyed by many generations. Indeed, many things can be made through crocheting, including things like a crocheted shawl. When some people think of crocheted shawls, they think of an old grandmother in a rocking chair with her crocheted shawl wrapped tightly around her. While crocheted shawls can certainly serve such a purpose, they can also be a source of great contemporary fashion.
A Night Out on the Town
A crocheted shawl is perfect for a woman who is wearing a sleeveless dress on a chilly night, but does not want to bring a jacket along. This kind of shawl is particularly appealing because it allows for warmth, but the stitches also allow a bit of skin to show, which results in a sexy look.
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June 18, 2007
Crocheted Purse Patterns
While crocheted purses appear to be the current rage, these accessories are far from new to the fashion scene. In fact, the first crocheted purse pattern was published in Holland in 1824! At this time, the popular styles of crocheted purse patterns were pouches or round, flat bags. In the 1920’s the “finger purse” came into vogue. The finger purse was a small bag that dangled from a crocheted ring that was worn around the finger. These purses were quite popular to wear with gowns on special occasions.
These days, crocheted purse patterns run the gamut – from small drawstring bags to carry the bare essentials, to large totes that are designed to hold everything but the kitchen sink. Evening bags are particularly in demand, since available materials for crocheted purse patterns include luxurious chenille and sparkling metallic. The best thing about a crocheted purse is that it takes very little yarn or thread to complete, and many of the patterns are perfect for a beginner’s project.
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May 16, 2007
Getting the Right Crochet Hooks
Contrary to what common sense might tell you, crochet hooks have not been around as long as crochet has. No one knows how long the simple art of crochet has existed. While pictures indicate that crochet stitches were used in ancient Egypt, the materials used in crochet usually don’t hold up as well as pyramids do.
Crochet hooks, as we know them, first appear in history during the nineteenth century. The use of metal for hooks and the need to make some of the work more uniform probably led to tools made from enduring material that could be identified as crochet hooks.
Today’s Hooks
Modern crochet hooks are made from modern materials - of course - and are made to standard sizes. As important as it is to find the hooks that work best with your preferred materials, fit your hand comfortably and make the required stitches, it is more important to understand how to determine which crochet hooks are right for you and your project. The ability to easily find free patterns on the Internet means having to understand what materials are called for in each pattern.
The size of crochet hooks is written differently in America and England. American hooks have a number and a letter to identify the size. The metric size is usually found on the package and on the hook as well. The English system uses a number. If an American crocheter found a pattern using English notations, the size of the hook given as 10 would translate to an American D/3 which in metric is 3.25 mm. Fortunately, the ease in finding free patterns is matched by the ease in finding tables to translate from one type of system to the other. All systems use larger numbers for larger crochet hooks.
Finer yarn and crochet thread calls for smaller hooks. Using the same weight of yarn with different sized crochet hooks will result in tighter and looser results. The size of the hook also affects the gauge. Changing the size of the hook can be a simple way to change the size of the finished product. Just be sure to experiment with the gauge first.
When a pattern calls for a steel hook, it is not telling you to avoid plastic ones. Steel hooks are the very small crochet hooks used with crochet thread to make lace. You can find pictures of the different hooks in pattern books and on the Internet to make sure. If a pattern calls for an unfamiliar hook, ask someone who is experienced or check a book or the Internet. Make sure you use the right crochet hooks for your projects.
