No matter how long you’ve been crocheting, there are likely to
be one or two crochet projects that intimidate you. Perhaps you’ve seen
pictures on Pinterest or read someone’s blog and thought “Wow! I’d love to make
that.” But you still haven’t gotten up the nerve to start.
I feel
pretty confident about my crochet abilities, but there are two projects that I’ve
yet to try: a crochet sweater that’s stitched up in pieces and Tunisian
crochet.
 |
| Beautiful Tunisian crochet stitch. |
Crochet
sweaters are on my list of projects I’d like to tackle. But as soon as I see a
pattern that involves crocheting and sewing together several pieces, I back out
of it and continue searching for something simpler. I’ve gone as far as
modifying a one-piece infant cardigan in order to avoid what I view as the more
difficult approach. My attempt led to a crochet project gone wrong, and I’ve
still yet to crochet a sweater that I’ll actually wear.
Tunisian
crochet, on the other hand, always looks so beautiful, and I’m tempted to try
it. Then I read the instructions, and I’m put off. It’s not so much that I
avoid difficult crochet patterns as much as it’s that crochet is a Zen-like
experience for me. I want it to be a stress-buster, not a stress-inducer!
 |
| Intricate Tunisian crochet wrap. |
Do you
have an easy-to-follow sweater pattern that you’d like to share? Have you
attempted Tunisian crochet? What projects intimidate you? Come on; ‘fess up!
Maybe, together, we can become brave enough to try a project that’s intimidated
us. I’m game if you are! And I bet we’ll find out it’s not as bad as we
originally thought.
Sweaters scare me off, definitely. Which is sad, because I really could use a good outerwear-type sweater to replace a jacket I lost. I don't know why they scare me; it's the same concepts (increasing, decreasing, sewing) as stuffed animals, and I've made dozens of those. I'd be eager to see any sweater patterns anyone has, too.
ReplyDeleteI have a sweater pattern that's "on my list" to start. I keep delaying! I'm working on an old cross stitch project right now, but I am promising myself that, as soon as I have that finished, I'll start the sweater. (Just need to find the right yarn. Summer-weight cotton.) Yeah. Does that count as another excuse?
ReplyDeleteIt's a simple, pullover sweater with raglan-type sleeves, I believe. Some increasing and decreasing.
Mary, I've tried Tunisian crochet and I love it! The only thing is, I end up with extra stitches and an ever-expanding edge. :(
Hi Mary and thank you for your lovely comment on my blog lovely of you to visit me.
ReplyDeleteNo pattern to share sorry. I've not attempted a sweater yet...maybe one day x
I see my aversion to sweaters is shared by others. What a shame, isn't it? There are so many that look pretty; too bad they're not easier to make. Perhaps someone will come along with a pattern. One can hope, right?
ReplyDeleteI find I keep avoiding anything with fancy/expensive yarns because it's just too hard and too expensive to get them. I will have to be brave and try them though.
ReplyDeleteCaitlin, you'll have to let me know. I'd love to try some of the fancy yarns, but I'd almost be afraid to use them because of the price!
DeleteI don't like crocheting clothing, even hats, because they never fit correctly. I can make baby sweaters but that's about it. I didn't like doing Tunisian crochet because it seemed too slow. But I have recently tried it and now I'm hooked! He,he! Hooked, get it? Anyway, I made a sampler afghan that I am very proud of. Check my blog ( March 2013 and November 2012) Try it, you'll like it!
ReplyDeleteYou're inspiring me to consider Tunisian crochet again, Charlotte! I'll bop over to your blog and check out your sampler afghan. Can't wait to have a look! Thank you for stopping by. :)
DeleteI admire filet crochet but I crochet too tight or too loose and never like my results. Maybe someday I'll try it again.
ReplyDeleteI've never tried that either, Dawn!
DeleteI'm a little intimidated by a sweater with sleeves. I've made two summer sleeveless sweaters that are slightly shaped lightweight pullovers that you wear with jeans. They were pretty easy and I liked how they came out. But the shaping of a full sweater seems tough. However, I love a challenge when it comes to crochet, so I joined yet another Craftsy class, since I'm a visual learner. As far as Tunisian…it's really fun, Mary! I think you'll like it and Charlotte Huffman has a really great idea for a good way to start when you're learning it…with a sampler afghan. :) Happy learning!!
ReplyDeleteI started doing Tunisian Crochet recently and I love it!! I worked with fisherman's wool that I dyed and a small hook size to make a variegated skinny scarf using the Tunisian Simple Stitch. Now I have moved on to a slightly fuzzy smoky colored acrylic/wool yarn and am using a larger hook along with the Simple Stitch. It looks lovely!! I avoided it for a while as well since my first attempt didn't look like to picture but once I got back into it and realized that the first two or three rows don't always look exactly the way you think that they should, I am continuing on full steam ahead. Good luck!!
ReplyDelete