Monday, February 14, 2011

"Drawing with a Hook" (Tapestry Crochet)

While I was researching tapestry crochet I came across this as an explanation:

"With Tapestry Crochet, one yarn is single crocheted, while another is carried," explains Ventura. "Colors are switched while 2 loops of the unfinished single crochet stitch are still on the hook..."


I was mulling over this until I realized that I do this anyway.  I could kick myself for not taking pictures of my Puppy Love Pillow before I frogged it but I used this method to spell out P-U-P-P-Y in my pattern.  I ended up just carrying the colors from row to row, one over the other until I needed it (white for the letters, pink for the pillow).  I started doing this because I needed a cleaner way to switch out colors without strings all over the backside.  My hats can be worn on both sides due to this method and I was surprised that it actually had a name out there like tapestry crochet.  Go figure.  Previously I was finishing off then reattaching another color but like I said this left strings that had to be weaved in in the back and I had a higher probability for the piece unraveling whereas doing it the "tapestry crochet" way left it sturdy and weaved in so the chances of unraveling are pretty much nil.  Woe (or headache) to the person that may want to unravel it one day though.  I was working on the Africa bag when I came across doing it this way.  I like how the color peaks through at times.  It works best with single crochet in my opinion unless you are working with a small hook.  Then the other stitches could work.  Just my experience. Also sometimes the yarn just ends while you are working with a color.  In my early crochet days I used to tie them together which would create a lump that would interfere with a stitch later on and leave a hard knot in the piece.  Doing it the "tapestry crochet" way provided a way to keep going fluidly.  I'll post pictures of how I do this later.  I thought this was how you were supposed to change colors...

I love crocheting this way.  It is like drawing with a hook.  The best of both worlds, so to speak.  I will explore this more. I have the time now.  After much anticipation I got the email I was waiting for last night from the Crafty Feast organizer.  I wasn't chosen as one of the 100 vendors this year.  I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed but I'm also a little relieved.  I was going non-stop building up inventory.  Now I can just sort of scale back and get on to other "non-crochet" related endeavors such as reading, writing, drawing, and painting.  Primarily reading, though.  As for crochet, I can experiment more and I will with this "drawing with a hook" method. 

I wonder what else that I am doing that is considered an actual "method."

Also I am having an issue that I think could possibly interfere with my crocheting endeavors in the future.  It is starting to hurt.  If the crochet hook is the small standard type with a thumb rest it works for awhile, then I start to develop a cramp in the crook in the palm of my hand which radiates up through my wrist.  Very uncomfortable.  I'll switch up (if possible) use my crochet hook that has the thick bamboo handle which alleviates a great deal of the pain.  I am mostly working with the G hook these days (my bamboo handle one is an H) so I may hunt down my polymer clay and make a handle for my G hook.   I'll make a kids "play with clay" day out of it.

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