The Crochet Addict III

The Sublimation Of a Jute Rug

One day (actually about 3 years ago), as I realized I was in need of a crochet fix. I came up with the idea to crochet a rug for my outdoor balcony. I had several ideas floating in my head about what kind of pattern I wanted to create and chose to try to crochet with jute thread.

I started my project with about 4 rolls of thread, but because I kept changing my mind on the size I wanted the rug to be, the design I wanted to create and the stitches I wanted to use, I kept on having to go back to the store to buy more rolls of thread!

My rug seemed to be taking shaped until I realized that some rolls had a slight variation in their colour and my crochet piece was looking more like a strange stitched patchwork then a plain jute rug. Not to worry I thought, when you finish, just throw it in the washing machine and the whole thing will even out. It didn't.

The discoloration was still present and on top of that, part of the rug became warped out of its once even squareness! So out of seething frustration (not to mention aching fingers!), I folded the stitched creation and threw it into a far corner of my shed.

Two years later, as I was daydreaming about how I could create something really cool for my front balcony (yes, there is also a back balcony, but I'll save it for another story), I decided to crochet a rug! 

I started brainstorming about what kind of patterns and yarn I could use and then I remembered the jute rug. The great thing about crochet or knitted works, is that you can always unravel them and turn them into something else.

 

So I went to recover the banished ugly little duckling and decided to revamp it into a decent piece of crochet.   A chequered design was the theme of the day and I admit, I did change my mind a few more times about the size of the rug and the patterns I wanted to create for the squares.  And, yes, I also had to go back a few more times to the store to buy more jute thread...  But in the end, I must say it was worth. I finally got my crochet fix!

The Crochet Addict II

The Lost Scarf

Back in march, as I was returning from a henna gig and it wasn't until the  next day that I realized I had forgotten one of my favorite crochet scarf in the car.  It was a very long scarf that I made (almost 3 meters !) and was a mixture of purple, orange, pink.  It was fabulous! The problem with having forgotten my scarf in the car was that it was a rented car and by the time I went back to see if a kind samaritan had the sense to just leave it alone until its rightful owner came back to get, it was gone. I can't say I'm surprised. I'm telling you... it was a fabulous scarf! I was really disappointed and then I wondered what the heck I would do if I actually crossed the person with MY scarf around her neck?! I mean, what do you say: Hey Miss! Did you happen to find that scarf in car n°1693? Yeah well, you do realize there's no other scarf like it in the entire world.  You know why? Because I made that incredible scarf you found in car n°1693 and you didn't have the decency to report it to the lost and found... But I must say it does look fabulous on you, but then again, that scarf is so fabulous it would look fabulous on anyone... but, originally it looked absolutely divine on me...!

See what I mean?  Anyway, after fantasizing about a most improbable encounter, I thought to myself that I needed to get over it and just make a new one already. But how could I outdo the fabulousness of my long lost scarf?  After some creative brainstorming, it came to me. I was gonna use the Gap sweater I bought in a thrift store for a few dollars which I ended up rarely wearing because it was too short. It was made of a soft thick yarn and the bubble gum pink colour was so irresistible. I went ahead and unraveled the whole sweater and crocheted into a new funky AND fabulous scarf.

And if I ever do encounter the person who took my old scarf, I'll just tell her : Did you find that scarf in car n°1693?  Keep it!  The one I have now is plush, pink and perfect!

The Crochet Addict

About 5 years ago, I asked a friend of mine to teach me how to crochet as a birthday present. When I was a little girl, a few of the kids I use to play with had grandmothers who would do crochet.  I remember being intrigued as I watched the odd movement of their hooks looping yarn.  I always thought there was something so rythmic and mysterious to it.  My own mother was into knitting, but there was something about it that never got me... well... hooked! But crochet?  Once I differentiated the slip stitches from the singles, the half double crochet from the trebbles, I became an addict. Here's one of the first project I created a few years ago.