NEEDLECRAFT GIFT’S ARE NOT EXPENSIVE!

Filed Under (Crochet) by Elsie Hagley on 18-02-2009

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GIVE A NEEDLECRAFT GIFT, THAT’S MADE BY YOU, IT’S NOT EXPENSIVE!

This blog is posted as Food For Thought.
Needlecraft of any kind, is a great way to create inexpensive gifts
and ensure that your beloved younger family members have a precious gift to
remember those days,(the joy you brought to their lives).
It will meet the need of a gift for any occasion, with the times not looking
good for 2009.
Giving a personally made gift, will teach children to make their own and save
instead of spending, as they enjoy the needlework you have given them.
It will comprehend the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
by teaching them needlecrafts to enjoy.
If they receive a personally made needlecraft article, they may take a interest
in learning to create one also.
Shoppers are becoming more aware of the strain on our planet and are
taking an interest in producing their own goods, needlecraft arts are something
which will never be forgotten as the years go by,like growing your own food,
to cut down on the grocery bill, reviving traditional skills such as spinning
and needlework to make their own clothing, it is a great saving to a already
stretch budget.
Now is the time to teach our young one’s art,that will never be forgotten,
with the times becoming so much harder economically, sustainability makes
good sense.
Budgets that are already tight don’t allow for much that isn’t a real necessity,
and now is the time to start a renewed interest in needlecraft arts as both
entertainment and practicality to save expenses.
Why not try to give a personally made needlecraft gift thats not expensive?

While surfing around some needlecraft Websites, I came upon this site it is worth taking a look at, if you have spare time you may like to contribute to it.

Coral Reef Crocheted wild Crochet Hyperbolic Coral Reef display.
They call the display a “celebration of geometry, handicraft and marine wonders.”

http://www.crafterscraft.com/crochet/

The image shows crocheted “striated coral” made by Daina Taimina, with “brain corals” by Spring Pace. The project is a collaborative one so if you want to contribute you can.They are inviting crocheters everywhere to contribute models to the reef. This is a collective project and all contributors will be fully acknowledged online and in future exhibitions.

There are also a few on Flickr.
Please check it out, it is beautiful artwork of crocheting.

Beautiful Crochet Artwork

Crochet Reef

Crochet Reef

VINTAGE CROCHET COLLAR INSET!

Filed Under (Vintage Crochet) by Elsie Hagley on 26-12-2008

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Needlecraft Superior!
Vintage Crochet Collar Inset

Before I continue with my second blog - I would like to make a special
tribute to these volunteers that I read about in a crochet article.
You are the best, it would be nice to think that there are a lot
more people living on this earth, that have some spare time or nothing
else to do, would take on this project (preemie baby hats) and help
all the innocent new born babies in this world no matter what part of
the world they are born in.
Here is a little peice taken from the item:

Pender women warm up preemie babies!
More than 2,000 knitted and crocheted preemie baby hats have been made
by the women of Pender Adult Services both at Topsail Senior Center in
Hampstead and Heritage Place in Burgaw, along with other volunteers
from the Pender and New Hanover County areas.
For the past two years, numerous women have worked on knitting and
crocheting brightly colored preemie hats.
The project started out as part of a national endeavor to help save
the millions of babies who die every year in underprivileged countries.
This project is a national endeavor that aimed to send 1 million baby hats
to Third World countries to needy babies in Malawi.- Under the coordination
of Hope Cusick, they continued to make hundreds of hats that were then sent
to other Third World countries.

VINTAGE CROCHET COLLAR INSET EDGING!
Here is a vintage crochet pattern, that I have had for many years and I am
sure that today with all those trendy young at hearts designing their own
fashion clothes these days,would like to add this to their lastest creation.

COLLAR INSET EDGING
1 ball selected colour No 60, Steel crochet hook No 5

Abbreviations: Ch. chain;  dc. double crochet; dbl tr. double treble;
ss, slip stitch.

FIRST MOTIF.
Commence with 10 ch, join with ss to form a ring * 4ch,
2 dbl tr into the ring, 4 ch, 1 ss into the ring; repeat from
* 5 times more (6 petals). Fasten off.

SECOND MOTIF.
Commence as first motif. 4 ch, join with ss into the top of
corresponding 4 ch on first motif, 2 dbl tr into ring on 2nd motif,
join with ss into top of corresponding 4 ch on same petal of first motif,
4 ch and complete motif as before.

Make 4 more motifs joining petals of one motif to corresponding petals
of next motif and forming a triangle.
Make another triangle of 6 motifs.

EDGING.
With right side of collar facing work a row of dc round outer edges having
a multiple of 8 plus 5 along fronts and back of collar, working 3 dc into
same place at corners.
Before working 2nd row of edging sew crochet triangles in position as shown
in the photo below.

2nd row; 5 ch turn, * miss 3 dc, 1 dc into next dc, 5 ch; repeat from * all
round working 1 dc into first dbl tr of each free petal of motifs, 1 ch, turn.

3rd row; 5 dc into first loop, * 3 dc into the next loop, 4 ch, 1 dc into top
of last dc (picot made), 3 dc into same loop, 5 dc into next loop; repeat from
*all round. Fasten off. Damp and press.

Compiled By Elsie Hagley, Urenui, New Zealand

Crochet Collar Inset

NEEDLECRAFT SUPERIOR CROCHET!

Filed Under (Crochet) by Elsie Hagley on 24-12-2008

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NEEDLECRAFT SUPERIOR BLOG!
Welcome to my Trendy Corner of Needle Craft Superior.
Thanks for taking a interest in my hobby of crafts!

This blog on Needlecraft Superior is Crochet,
as it is a craft you can do no matter where you are, on holiday, at the beach,
traveling, on land, sea, flying, or just relaxing at home.

Needlecraft Joy’s with Crochet!

The great thing about handcrafted gifts is that they can be passed down from
generation to generation, as a great grandmother my grandchildren love these gift’s.

There are dozens of different crochet stitches and designs that you can produce.
Crocheting is a art form.
It takes talent and imagination to produce a beautiful baby blanket or afghan
or even a simple edging on a doily.
Not everyone can crochet. Just like any craft, you have to enjoy it and truly have
a passion for it, (which I have), even taught my 11 years old granddaughter.

How to Techniques: Learn Crochet!

Search the Internet for free crochet patterns. Choose your yarn and get started.
You just never know what works of art are hiding in your fingertips.
The basic idea behind crochet is to use a crochet hook (a needle with a hook at one end),
to pull a thread or yarn through knotted loops, thus creating a fabric from the thread or yarn.
There are quite a variety of different types of hooks available, and a number of ways of
performing crochet, and as a result, it is possible to produce a range of different fabrics
using crochet.

Creative Craft’s in Crochet Yarns!

Crocheting can be done with any string material from the finest cotton thread to raffia,
leather cords and fabric strips.

In Fact I have come across this the other day:
Bag Ladies Take Going Green To The Extreme - Women turn trash into purses.

Recycling grocery store bags,named Redneck Recyclers started crocheting and selling handbags
made from used plastic bags more than a year ago.
The finished purses are attractively soft and woven, bearing no resemblance to the cheap,
thin plastic bags that inspired them.
The women spend their free time cutting plastic grocery bags into strips and then using
crochet hooks, work them into lasting, creative handbags.

“These bags are going to live forever,and what better way to help the environment”?
To learn more about these Redneck Recyclers go to http://redneckrecyclersne.home.att.net

Below are same synthetic yarns which are traditionally used for crochet work such as edgings
and household items.

Pearl Cotton - Description:-Sizes 5, 8 and 12 loosely twisted, very high sheen, large colour
selection including shaded tones,  USES:- Edgings,Fashion Accessories.

Mercerized Cotton - Description:- Size 3 (heavy) available in limited colour range.
Sizes 10 heavy) available to 60 (very fine), very firmly twisted,
large colour selection including shaded tones.
Sizes 80 to 100 (extra fine) available in white only)could have changed now!
USES:- Tablecloths, dollies, place mats, bedspreads, trimmings and edgings,
baby clothes.
Rayon - Description:- Very fine yarn with a silky look.  USES:- Laces, edgings and trimmings.

Metallic Yarn - Description:- Blend of metallized polyester(20%) and viscose duracol(80%), washable,
will not tarnish. Limited colour range.  USES:- Evening wear,fashion accessories.

Boucle - Description:- Light to medium weight, cotton or synthetic summer yarn.
USES:- Fashion garments.

Knitting Cotton - Description:- Light to medium weight, pure cotton, for knitting or crochet.
USES:- Bedspreads, place mats, fine and lacy garments.
THIS IS TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE AT THE MOMENT.

Crochet Hooks For Needlecraft!

Crochet hooks are made in many sizes and materials.
For example, a thin steel hook used with fine cotton or linen thread will produce a delicate,
lacy fabric suitable for edgings, collars and cuffs; a jumbo hook used with hand spun wool
will produce bulky, open fabric suitable for shawls and ponchos.

If you are following a commercial pattern, the hook size will be specified in the instructions.
If you are making up your own design, experiment with various hooks to obtain the desired effect.
In general the recommended sizes for working with wool are 1.50 to 10mm, with cotton, 0.60 to 3.50mm.

Crochet Designs for Learning Needlecraft Superior!

Some of the more popular designs and patterns found in magazines ranging from doilies and table clothes
to mats, runners, baby dresses, bonnets and bootees, to name a few.
Scarves, bags, purses and belts also add to the choice of designs available.

You will be amazed at how necklaces, earrings and bracelets too are crocheted.
This is not a complicated thing and can be done with the simplest of steps.
You can also learn how to incorporate crochet with beads, embroidery and knitting.

It is just amazing at how much you can learn from a crochet magazine or book and will come to depend
on it extensively.