Comfort Crochet

I had a couple big kitting project fails recently (more about them in another post), so I decided it was time for a comfort crochet project.  What is comfort crochet?  Let me explain.

I have been crocheting since childhood, so it is much easier for me than knitting.  I’m fairly fast, can confidently read patterns and can figure out how to fix problems as I go.  That means that I rarely have a project that I end up hating after spending hours working on it.  I don’t get frustrated with crochet so the time I spend stitching is truly relaxing and restorative.  An added bonus is the boost to my confidence and confirmation that I actually can stitch!  None of this is true with my knitting yet (I know – time and practice).  A comfort crochet project is one that is smaller in scale, like a scarf or shawl, fairly simple to stich and uses up stash yarn. 

Comfort crochet project came up more often during 2020.  I made three different shawls during the year, one for my Mom and two for me.  When I needed a break from my Shibui Medley stole project, I would work up one of the shawl projects.  For all three projects, I used Lana Grossa patterns.  Here are pictures of the patterns and my version (all yarn was from  my stash).

Large Triangular Crochet Shawl
Luxury Shades, Lana Grossa

My Version With a Surprisingly Busy
Mystery Alpaca Yarn

Crochet Shawl, Shades Booklet, Lana Grossa

My Version, Unforgettable Yarn Polo

My Version, Universal Yarns
Handprints

Crochet Scarf
Luxury Shades, Lana Grossa

Fruit Garden - Waiting Patiently?

 In 2020, an online Craft store called Dreamores (in the US and the UK) sponsored a crochet along for an afghan pattern called Fruit Garden designed by Jane Crowfoot.  She is an amazing designer has created some very exciting patterns.  Just looking at her afghan designs, there are several that would have be happily pulling out my hook right this minute. 

Lighter Color Scheme

Darker Color Scheme

Unfortunately, due to work demands, I did not think my schedule would allow me to keep up with the pace of the crochet along.  I did not buy the yarn kit that went with the project because I figured I could buy the yarn later when I know my schedule would allow.  Big mistake.  Dreamores has been sold out of the yarn kit for months in both color ways.  At first, I wanted to work up the darker version but now I will be happy with either color scheme.  I’ve tried to put together my own kit by buying the yarns separately, but they are always out of stock on some of the colors.  I’m worried that if I buy only some of the colors, either the colors I need or the entire line of yarn will be discontinued.  The darker version used a yarn called Naturals Bamboo-Cotton that I don’t see on their website anymore.  I have signed up for a notification of when the yarn kits are back in stock, but I am afraid I missed the boat. 

This pattern is so unique, using squares unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.  I love the Arts & Crafts period influence.  The pattern is based on The Melsetter Hangings, embroideries that were designed by May Morris, the second daughter of the famous William Morris.  To be perfectly honest, I’m afraid of this pattern, worried that I won’t be able successfully stitch it.  It is rated as an intermediate project, but it looks much harder to me.  The finished blanket is rather small; the lighter one coming in at 50.5” square and the darker one at only 44” square.  Even so, I love it so much that I’m willing to take the risk. 

I am also toying with the idea of buying another brand of DK yarn and making it bigger by about 50%.  I need to do some math to figure out how many more blocks I can add to the center to make the border blocks line up correctly (or close to it).  If the yarn kits don’t become available within the next few months, I will probably go this route.  Updates to come! 

Exciting Discovery

While preparing my earlier post about my Mon Tricot 800 Stitch Dictionary (published 1963), I discovered that they had a 1300 Stitch Dictionary (published 1979).  I tracked down a used copy on Amazon and ordered that bad boy.  The 800 version has stitches that I have never seen anywhere else.  Although I know there will be a lot of repeats with the new book, the potential for up to 500 unique stitches was impossible to resist. 

I did some research trying to find out more about Mon Tricot.  It was a french knitting magazine that does not seem to be in business anymore.  They started coming out with stitch books translated into English.  There are several versions with varying numbers of stitches.  I’ve heard rumors about a 1,500 stitch version but it does not have a crochet section, so I’m not interested in that one.

One word of caution.  These books were translated in the UK and use terms like wool instead of yarn.  The terminology is very different with crochet (sc is the US is a dc in the UK).  If you buy one of these books, make sure you know if it uses US or UK terminology.  I keep a piece of paper in my books with a guide to the US vs. UK terminology – problem solved.