February 13th, 2012 at 12:12 pm
Most importantly, maybe you have not been color trained, but if you look at a combination, made a small swatch and LIKE THE RESULT – then the rules be damned –
CAVEAT: I do not currently sell any of the products mentioned, but I probably should since they are so personally helpful – That changes, I will edit this Tiplet
Must be something in the air, the same day a question comes up in Tunisian Crochet, I also get two emails asking me about learning aids.
There are so many excellent color references books and tools out there, but these are the ones, I like today.
Useful to “have in hand” the “Creative Color Wheel”
It is described (and with a bit of practice really does work much more effectively than a basic color wheel) as “a tool for designers in all artistic mediums to help create color combinations and to understand color relationships… Helps organize colors to make choices and combinations easier… ”
Although I AM going to have to get them to include Crocheters and Kumihimists (braider) into the list of “artists”
Now if you want an insight into just how restrained my importance of swatching really is, I can be… another product those who are as wacky as I can be (I prefer wacky to a diagnosis of AR) is their Create-A-Wheel
An uncolored color wheel ready for you to paint your own favorite colors. A practical, hands-on, tool for teaching … color relationships. Although designed for use by painters, I have been know to make a larger copy of this and then glue yarns and fabrics to it until I find the combination that make me happy.
Because of the first can be just as useful when made last…
maybe you have not been color trained, but if you look at a combination, made a small swatch and LIKE THE RESULT – then the rules be damned
Enjoy the Making
Wheat
February 9th, 2012 at 09:53 am
In a pretty much unrelated conversation in a designer’s group, a comment was made that “got me thinking” about one of my favorite topic – Standardization.
This is not really to say that how a technique is taught should be standard, but what the end result “looks like” should have a common name.
As most know, I Love Standardization and several of us are currently involved in trying to get some into Crochet beyond the 5-8 basic stitches. There is another group that tries very hard to create at least standard terms in “English” for Japanese Braidmaking – Kumihimo.
Not making a judgement here, but I have never understood calling the part of a “threaded needle” project that was the “Stitch Key” a graph or a chart. Although I can, for purposes of illustrating stitch placement see where either term could be reasonably interchangeable.
However the dilemma is that terms “cross craft”. We could spend hours and pages on why, but let’s don’t and just stipulate that it is so.
Using graph as an example, to say that it is limited to Cross stitch just does not work. Graph is commonly used in Crochet, Knit, Beadwork, weaving – Not to mention the one place where it does have a fairly standard meaning – Math and in every case including Math – if there are more than one person at the table, we could site at least 1-4 other terms commonly used to describe again placement be it of stitches or color.
Parallel development is so common in craft technique that there is always going to be someone who thinks they “invented” a stitch or whatever and even when others can, often as not, show that the “end result” of the stitch already exists, with a different name but with the same steps in its execution – they will still choose to claim authorship and name it as they please.
Then you have the main stream (or as main stream as niche publisher can be) craft book houses who have, because of the vacuum in established standards, make their own so at least the bulk of their publications would be the same and thus more usable for the consumer.
Is there an answer to this? Probably not, that won’t stop some of us from trying to make it easier for those who love the techniques from trying to make it easier for all to share.
Maybe we need a “Design Author Pledge” where egos are set aside and common factors are defined, common names used, and then it will be up to the individual to decide how to teach the process/technique.
Okay obviously I needed something to rant about – but really, what do you think?
Enjoy the Making
Wheat
P.S. A thank you to Linda Reinmiller for her comment that helped me “finally finish” this commentary
February 3rd, 2012 at 09:42 am
May I start by saying that neither SGK or PP are my “charity of choice”
I remember the early days of Planned Parenthood. That it has historically chosen not to abide by its own stated goals is made marginally acceptable because it does do some good – and could be better
That SGK is following its own rules – not to provide grants to organizations under investigation – should not IMNHO be a reason for chastisement – or at least not yet.
Why have such a rule? Because SGK and PP for that matter have a Fiduciary obligations to their donors and to their constituency – women in need.
Neither group needs a scandal drying up its resources – although MoveOn seems to determined to create one as part of its ongoing political and social divisive efforts.
Perhaps before we all go viral with venomous commentary it would be good to get more complete facts – there are always at least 2 sides to every story and frankly I would think one needs to triple check ANY group which is primarily politically motivated and seems to have as it sole goal (moveon. org) generating as much hate as it can under the guise of the greater good.
To the best of my knowledge, pretty much EVERY State in the US has some sort of program to provide annual and even more often low or no cost mammograms to the un-and-under insured.
Instead of stamping our feet and key boards, I invite you to find a charity of YOUR choice, and make a donation. I cannot help but wonder if every one of those on line donated $10 to PP it would not more than make up for any loss from SGK.
Or, because when I was desperately in need of care as an uninsured facing major illness, it was Access Carroll and the wonderful doctors who donate their time to the organization that saved my life a time or three.
Perhaps instead of ranting pro or con about PP & SGK, you could spend that time finding a local program in need of your support.
If you happen to live in Carroll County Maryland, I hope you will consider even the smallest of donations to Access Carroll – they will use every bit of it in the most beneficial manner possible.
Enjoy the making
Wheat
January 27th, 2012 at 11:34 am
Or does it really look like she has her pants on backwards
December 26th, 2011 at 00:01 am
Kim Guzman the well known Tunisian Crochet Designer is planning a CAL (Crochet-A-Long) based on a vintage Tunisian Men’s Glove Pattern
Kim started planning this CAL after some discussion in the Yahoo Group for Tunisian Crochet Kim co-owns with aRNIE Grabowski, while it is a good pattern, but some of the language is a bit “old school” so can cause some difficulty for today’s crochet enthusiast.
Kim has announced that she will be conducting the crochet-along in the CrochetKimCAL. If you are already a member of that YahooGroup, you need do nothing. If you are not a member and would like to participate, you will need to visit the link and request membership.
|
Knowing one of the “Gotcha’s” for vintage patterns is they were written (as are many today) in support of a specific yarn and yarns come and go so it is sometimes not easy to “get the details quickly. With this in mind, using an early (7th ) and the current (53rd) editions of Valuable Knitting Information to get the necessary yarn details.
|
This vintage pattern wants
Bear Brand Win-Sport yarn
Sport Weight with 235 yards,
Pattern Gauge is 7 STI
(28 across 10cm/4 in)
|
What concerns me is that the same pattern gauge the yarn label give for “knitting gauge”. It is true Tunisian is somewhat heavier than knitting, although not as much as standard crochet. I think swatching will be a definite requirement even with a perfectly matched yarn and possibly even fulling the swatch to be sure the fabric is acceptable.
Another reason to swatch is the pattern suggests an E (US Size) hook. D & E have changed over the years so for vintage patterns I compared the chart of the covers of the 7th and 53rd editions VKI (which are the same) as well as my own Hook Chart If, as the knitting gauge suggests, a 3.5mm is needed, then, depending on when and where your hook was made, it might be considered either a D or an E. (the CYC places this as a D, but Clover, Pony and Boye and Bates all suggest this as an E)
Still, ultimately the BearBrand Win-Sport drops nicely into the CYC No 1 – Fingering Yarn Category – near the top but within range in my own Yarn Label Reference Chart
My plan to swatch using 
Arucania’s Ranco – a sock yarn Although a bit heavier with a knit gauge of 6 STI, it should not be all that difficult to adjust a bit. I will likely use similar concepts as those shown in the WikiHow WikiHow for sizing
If these get done, then I think it will be fun to also make a cowl to keep my neck and shoulders warn while computing, who knows maybe even matching socks – maybe even in time for next winter
But first the search for the “perfect hook” for this project.
Peace of the Season
Wheat
