Crochet Extra – August 2022

It’s August already but it seems those August winds have kicked in early and have been cold and strong.   It is nice to sit in the evenings with the fire going and take in the sporting heroics at the Commonwealth Games.  As a keen squash player I am looking forward to watching how the squash team go.

One of my customers recently had a birthday and her very talented daughter made her an amazing cake – I had to look twice!  The detail she went to – the hook, stitch markers and plate are all edible too!  The colours match perfectly those of the Rosewater Cocktail Whirl.

The tournament has come to an end for another year – and we had some fabulous entries.  If you haven’t done so already, take a look at our facebook group images Well done everyone!  Our final overall winners will be drawn this week as we tally up all the entries.

It is with sadness that we will be saying farewell to Sarah this month.  After 7 years at Crochet Australia, Sarah is moving on to another role that works better with other changes that have occurred in her life.  She has been a valuable member of the team and will be missed by us and many of you.

This month is also customer corner time!  I just loved seeing the photos submitted by you all – beautiful work as always.  The winner of our $25 voucher is Elsharah H (She is also the creator of this marvellous cake).  Congratulations!

We will also be holding our Crochet Retreat at the end of this month – it is fully booked out with almost 60 attendees.  Emily and I are both looking forward to it and seeing many returning and new faces.   One of the projects we will be working on is Irish Crochet – a form of free form which has enspired our theme for this month.  If you can’t join us, you may be able to make your own freeform fun.

In our classes this month we are making a mandala bag – using up to two different techniques – the choice will be yours.  Overlay mandala or mochilla.  Book your spot here

In September we are getting ready for summer crocheting a summer hat. Book your spot here

We’ve also published our next few months of classes – crochet a summer top, or crochet a floor rug. See them all in our Events Calendar

Until next time, stay warm and crochet!

Lynda

Theme—Freeform

Have the freedom of just expressing yourself and be creative with freeform.  Let the creative juices flow and create all sorts of different shapes and lines using different media, fibre, stitches and techniques – crochet, knitting, macrame, weaving, beading – anything is allowed.  You are not onstrained by patterns

Freeform is made up of many small patches of different shapes flowers and ‘scrumbles’ which are then joined together.  The term ‘Scrumbles’ is used to refer to any irregular shape. They are then joined together in any order and form that suits you, to create wearable garments, hats, bags, jewlery or wall hangings.  Irish Crochet lace is one of rhe oldest forms of freeform crochet.

Many assume you need to be an expert or advanced crocheter or knitter – but that is not the case at all.  Anyone can do it, regardless of skill lecel.  All you need to be able to do is understand the effect of different stitches to and how to increase and decrease to create interesting shapes, and crochet along the edges of knitting and crochet shapes.

A great starting point if you’ve never tried before is motifs.  And it doesn’t matter if they have gone wrong – they then make the perfect scrumble!  Gauge and yarn-weight don’t matter either. Mix and match the different fibres – metallic, chenille, wool, cotton – anything to give a different texture and look.  It also enables you to explore using different colours, is a great way to learn new techniques and use up all those left over yarns.

There are several designers who have authored books to help you get started and allow you to explore your creativy.  See what patterns and other tools we have available to help you with your freeform journey.  Or try this introductory pattern by Margaret Hubert – The Freeform Cropped Topper.

Customer Corner

Thank you everyone for sending in pictures of what you have been making in the past quarter. We feature below some comments and masterpieces submitted by customers. Send us a photo of your masterpiece (by the submissions page, email or on our facebook page), telling us which book it came from and which yarn or thread you used, and be in the draw to win a $25 voucher in August 2022  (see conditions on our website). Please also add any tips you’ve picked up when making them. Congratulations to Elsharah H for winning this quarter’s voucher – submitting a photo of her 3D crocheted flower which she was wearing in her hair when she visited us.

Look What We Found