Category: crochet

50 Years of Flower Power – a freeform crochet & knit artwork – Call out…

Flower power1This post is a call out for Prudence Mapstone who is inviting creative crocheters & knitter to join her in creating a unique piece of wall art for an upcoming Sydney (Australia) textile art show. Freeform crochet or knit contributions are sought worldwide: be part of a joint creation to be exhibited at Fibrefest, Sydney, May 1-3, 2015.

You’ll find all the details here

if you’re on Ravelry… check out what other folk have been doing so far

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This project grabbed me the moment I came across it on Facebook… as a ‘matured’ hippy it’s right up my alley. And, I’m sure, for those of you old enough to remember: the flower power Combies & panel-vans, caftans & tie-dyed Tshirts, Peace & Love, ‘Make Love Not War’ posters… & what a carefree time it was, it will bring a knowing smile…

Flower power 3So… dig deep into your stash & pulled out all those long forgotten hot pinks, iridescent oranges & lime greens & begin.  Patterns aren’t necessary but can be a good place to start, make a scrumple or just a motif, let the colours lead the way…. it’s the best fun I’ve had in ages & I’m hoping many of you will take up the invite… whether young, ‘mature’ or somewhere in-between… & have a go… trust me, you’ll really enjoy yourself…

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3 new Freestyle knitted Shawls with Freeform crochet edging…

cream freestyle wrapThese freestyle knitted scarf, shawl, wraps are some of my favourite pieces to create & I get many requests for custom orders but, as I never know how each piece will evolve or turn out, l aways hesitate to take on personal requests. Instead, I wait till I find the right yarn, in inspiring colours or textures, & just make them in the hope that others will like them too.

The body of these pieces have been knitted freestyle, by this I mean, randomly increasing & decreasing the edges & then filling in the raggedy edges with freeform crochet motifs & edging… No patterns to follow, which is very liberating & totally creative…

These 3 pieces are available in my Etsy shop… enjoy!

Freestyle shawl turquoiseFern green freestyle knit

Handspun yarn…. A new direction perhaps?…

Handspun shawl

No, not really, but I do love handspun yarn & so admire those who devote so much time & effort creating it. Some time ago I inherited a large box of handspun yarn which, initially, inspired me to make a coat with over-sized crochet motifs but, over time, my enthusiasm for the project waned & it was put on the back-burner.

Needless to say, I’d already invested a lot of time making the motifs, then to just push the project to the back of the cupboard was such a waste & that bothered me. The idea came to create smaller items… here are a couple I’ve finished… Big, bold & chunky…Handspun beanie hat2Handspun beanie hat

handspun shawl2

A Great way to start 2015 & A Big Thank You…

Another big Thank You to all the ladies who came along to the ‘Welcome Back Afternoon’ yesterday (11th Jan 2015)… we had a lovely time even though we sweltered in the heat &, despite the determined ants who almost ate us out of house & home… Welcome to the new ladies who came to check things out &, of course, welcome back to all you gorgeous regular folk… 2015 is going to be great!! Here are some pics of finished projects & works in progress… What a clever bunch!!

Alwyn's freeform

Barbara

Doreen

Margaret

Wendy M

Wendy N

Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef, Sunshine Coast Queensland, Australia…

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Hello everyone, this is a community project that I’m so excited to be participating in & thought I’d share some of what I’ve been doing so far…

Here’s a link to where it all began http://crochetcoralreef.org/about/index.php

& here’s a link to the ‘Sydney Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef’ that I also contributed to in 2009  http://sydneyreef.blogspot.com.au

The launch of ‘Spawning of the Sunshine Coast Satellite Reef’, part of the worldwide Crochet Coral Reef Project and created by the Institute for Figuring, took place at the ‘World Environment Day Festival’ on Sunday, 8th June 2014 at the University of the Sunshine Coast.

This large scale community program project will culminate in an exhibition at ‘Caloundra Regional Gallery’ from May 20 to June 28, 2015… so there’s plenty of time for anyone interested in reef awareness to participate… here’s the link to the Caloundra Regional Gallery

http://gallery.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/sitePage.cfm?code=exhibition-coral-reef

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So… these are some examples of my efforts… I’ve used yarn from my stash, yarn that people have given to me, yarn purchased from Op shops, plastic string & old video tapes… It’s the most fun I’ve had in ages watching the pieces grow… &, I still have heaps of ideas for experimenting with these wonderful shapes & forms that are so easy to create & come to life with every stitch… Enjoy!

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