Episode 73 > Crochet Circle Podcast

February 03, 2022 • Fay Dashper-Hughes • Cloud crop top • cloud crop top crochet • Crochet Circle Podcast • Crochet podcast • crocheted socks • Episode 72 • Fay Dashper-Hughes • Fjord Fibres • Harvest Hues wool • John Arbon Textiles • Segue socks • The Crochet Circle Podcast • Varde wool • woollyknit

Episode 73

About a 4 minute read

Audio of Episode 73 Crochet Circle podcast

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INTRO

My name is Fay and this is my audio and video podcast for those that love fibre crafts, particularly crochet. This podcast is sponsored by my online crafting company, Provenance Craft Co.

Thanks to everyone who tunes into the podcast whether it is through Stitcher, Podbean, Spotify, Amazon, iTunes or the YouTube Channel. Your support and engagement are really appreciated and makes running a podcast very special and worthwhile.

If you would like to support the podcast, you can do that through Patreon:

OLD DOG NEW TRICKS

This one came in from Lisa. If you are adding a new colour in and start with a slip stitch, use the new yarn tail for the initial chain, then continue with the new working yarn. This helps to secure down that first stitch and stops it from pulling loose at the tail end.

In turn, this will help you keep a more even tension in that part of the row/round!

It’ these little tricks that make your crochet neater.

FINAL DESTINATION

I did too much repetitive crafting in the lead up to Christmas and through the festive period. Knitted ribbing has created problems in my right hand.

I’m trying to be careful and swap my crafts around so that I’m not putting too much pressure on my right hand with repetitive stitches. This has meant that I have spread myself across a few different projects and haven’t really finished much.

Moorit 2 patterns have just been released though, so I can show you the pattern I have in that. It's called the Drift bag and it's inspired by the colours and shapes of sea glass. The bag is made with Weku Yarns DK Merino in shade Enjoli and mini skeins of RiverKnits in the Baa and Jewel Orange.

Moorit 2 is now open for pre-orders from me at Provenance Craft Co, direct from Moorit and if you are US/Canada based, you can pre-order from Claudia at Crochet Luna.

Double image with a crocheted bag over one shoulder and being held out with a straight arm. Bag is striped with colour-work crochet shapes in rust and cream. Main colour is an aqua blue/green.

Close up of top of crocheted bag with brown leather handles and similar coloured beach glass in amber, aqua and white.

I did get my second dining chair cushion finished, so have a lovely matching pair now!

I also managed to hack back my favourite knitted socks and reknit the heel, sole and toes. This form of sock mending worked very well and would definitely also work for cuff down crocheted socks too.

The trick is knowing where you are cutting the socks and what part of the pattern that relates to. This is another good reason to take good notes as you work through a pattern. Not only will it make crocheting the second sock easier, it will give you good notes to refer back to.

A few of you checked out Knitcompanion and are now using it for storing and taking notes on patterns. There is a free version, so it’s worth looking at if you want to add notes to PDF patterns.

The repaired socks are in Fjord Fibres Trollfjord Sock yarn which is 80% Norwegian wool and 20% polyester, in the shade Moroccan Tagine.

two dining chairs with blue crocheted seat pads.

cut worn portion of a sock beside the newly re-knitted sock heel, sole and toes. Yarn is a warm peachy colour with hints of brown, cream and blue.

I don’t think that this necessarily helped my hand issues, but I did a one-day woodworking course with my friend Bec. Over the course of eight hours, we learned about the different tools and woods and each made a frame. It was meant to be a tee-light holder but I knew I would get more use from a frame.

My plan is to use some of my lovely natural wools and to do some macraweaving or tapestry weaving to place inside it.

handmade wooden frame with a selection of three weaving, macrame and fibre macrame books beside it.

Towards the end of the day, I found myself reflecting on what I had made so far, and it honestly looked like crap. It was only in the last hour or so that the whole piece came together into a nice, neat frame. I forget this with almost every project I tackle, no matter what medium I’m using. I chastise myself, tell myself I’m not creative and that what I’m producing is rubbish.

What I need to remember is that it’s the final bit of a project that really pulls it together. Whether that is washing and blocking, adding a border to it or finding the perfect things to attach. The finishing touches make the project the vision I had in my head – at least most of the time.

So, lesson learned. Don’t chastise yourself for not fulfilling your project vision when you haven’t even finished it yet!

EN ROUTE

I have made some progress on my Segue Socks by Deanne at Addydae Designs using a 100% wool 360m per 100g from Russia.

The front and back post stitches are quite hard on my hand, so I can only do little bits at a time, unfortunately.

Partially made toe up sock with crocheted up the beginning of the heel decreases. The wool being used is in a ball beside the sock and is an orange brown with a slate blue.

I have got my next crochet project lined up, the Fridasjal by Jeanette at Air Crochet. If you haven’t come across Jeanettes’ work yet go and take a look. Her designs are chic and timeless.

I also have eyes on her Shades of Autumn Shawl when she releases it in English as well as Danish. Again, I will take to stash and I think the Fridasjal needs to be crocheted in natural coloured yarns from my British Breeds stash.

Jeanette holds out her colourwork crocheted shawl with triangle motifs in cream and navy. Close up of striped border of the same shawl.

Jeanette holds out her colourwork crocheted triangular shawl with a log-cabin pattern effect in seven different neutral shades. Close up of the shawl.

DESIGNS IN PROGRESS

Progress is being made on my Fall into winter blanket design. I am almost finished as I’m on the border rounds. I’m using John Arbon Textiles Harvest Hues aran in Blue Spruce as the main colour, then Flax, Bracken, Russet and Pomegranate for the contrast colours (65% Merino and 35% Zwartbles 200m/219yds per 100g).

One corner panel of the Fall Into Winter Blanket with the beginnings of the main colour, blue/green double crochet border.

FEEDING THE HABIT

Claudia from Crochet Luna sent me some of her Z-twist yarn to take a look at. If you are a right-handed crocheter the Z-twist presents your crocheted stitches in a very defined manner. If you are a left-handed crocheter, pretty much every yarn on the market is going to do the same because it is created as a S-twist yarn. Z-twist is rarely seen.

two skeins of plump natural cream yarn one skein is undone and the one at the back remains twisted.

This yarn is 80% alpaca and 20% merino and it is spun in a small mill under an hour from Claudia in San Diego. It’s a special yarn. There is a lovely, plump twist to it and it is full of character.

I love yarns that aren’t homogeneous. When a yarn runs through my fingers, I want to see slight differences in the thickness, I want to feel the fibres. I want to see that there is a human element to the process.

My plan is to work up some samples so I can show what a difference the Z twist makes to a right-handed crocheter. Claudia has plans for this Z-twist yarn and I will fill you in when there is more to tell. I had a zoom catch up with Claudia last night to chat about yarn and all things crochet community.

We are planning something great in the autumn, so watch this space!

QUICK NEWS BEATS

1 - The next Global Hook Up is on Saturday 19th February at 8pm (GMT) and Sunday 20th February at 9am (GMT). Go to www.zoom.us and use code 475 047 5819 and passcode WOOL.

That is it from me. I will be back on the 4th of March.

Fay x

KEEP IN TOUCH

Instagram: Crochet_Circle_Podcast

YouTube: The Crochet Circle Podcast

Instagram: provenance.craft.co

Newsletter: Provenance Craft Co.

Instagram: FayDHDesigns

Newsletter: Fay DH Designs

Instagram: @livingatno87

Newsletter: Living at no. 87

Crochet Clan on Mighty Network: Invite

ABOUT THE PODCAST

My name is Fay and this is my audio and video podcast for those that love fibre crafts, particularly crochet. It’s a community for people that like to support their fellow humans regardless of race, gender, sexuality, ability, size or age. I hope you feel the welcome embrace and love of the Crochet Clan.

Come on in and stay awhile.