Comments on: Bringing Out the Crochet Designer in You

By: gatyamgal

gatyamgal — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 23:50:39 +0000

I crocheted a small hat once and sold it on ebay as a hat for a preemie. To my surprise, the lady that bought it said she got it for her sock monkey. She asked if I could crochet a matching dress and booties! I had never crocheted a doll sized dress before. I just pictured in my mind what the top would look like and I knew to make a full skirt I would have to increase stitches and I surprised myself by creating my first “doll” dress. And since Sock monkeys don’t have feet, just “stubs” I crocheted a couple tube like socks that folded over with ruffles on the edge. She LOVED them. I found out that she made greeting cards with pictures of dressed up sock monkeys and that outfit was featured on one of her cards. I haven’t crocheted anything like that since. Maybe it is time to try it again! Thanks for the thought provoking article.

By: theresa catlett

theresa catlett — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 21:10:06 +0000

OMG I thought I was the only one changing, adding, subtracting and just plain going “off-book” with patterns…. I have been crocheting for over 40 years and I’m only 50 this year, and to tell the truth I think the only time I followed a pattern start to finish “on-book” was the first lesson I read in the Coats & Clark Learn to book I picked at a yard sale that booooorrrrring summer sooooo long ago when Mom was looking for old jeans and mens shirts to have woven into throw rugs and I was wondering what I would do with myself 12 hours a day on summer vacation from school(3 whole months!!!!!) Then I taught myself to crochet with the cheap, itchy yarn the lady at the yard sale threw in with the purchase of that book and the size G hook I still have…….. then I taught Mom and Grandma because the dog blanket I was making for our Boston Terrier looked EASY yes it was my first “off-book” pattern>>>>>>>

By: Liza

Liza — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 21:05:23 +0000

I have change pretty much every pattern I’ve ever used, and more often than not, just use the pattern as an idea of how I can make something myself.

I do the same thing when I’m cooking. I generally use recipes as guides rather than rules.

It’s good to know that I’m not the only one!

By: Dana

Dana — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 17:19:43 +0000

Improvising is pretty fun and often necessary. I’ve followed my latest pattern pretty much exactly, but can’t manage the ears. Plus the recipient would rather a different style of ears, so I’ve got to wing it. ^_^ The eyes and tail aren’t interesting to me either.

Every budding artist has to start by coping someone else and making alterations to suit your liking is a good way to start creating designs of your own.

Very nice post. Cheers.

By: Peggy

Peggy — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 16:29:32 +0000

Once I started doing it, I just loved making changes to adjust a pattern for a different yarn, a different size (especially older patterns that seemed to be designed just for flat-chested people), or just a stitch design in a different application.

Occasionally I actually follow a pattern and use the yarns it calls for — when they are interesting and not ridiculously expensive.

By: Lynne

Lynne — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 16:23:56 +0000

I made a few pair of fingerless gloves ( from patterns) for my niece … and then went NUTS
designing my own! First I “tweaked”, but they are so simple that I was designing my own
in no time! Put me down as a designer now (I have done the same thing with hats I donate
to the local hospital for chemo patients).

By: Shellie Dunn

Shellie Dunn — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 16:21:15 +0000

All my friends laugh when I start a new pattern. The joke is:

“How long will she follow the pattern before venturing off on her own thing . . .”

Yes, I can’t crochet anything without changing SOMETHING!

Whether it’s the finishing, or an entire revamp, I rarely follow a pattern line for line.

By: Peggy

Peggy — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 16:15:31 +0000

O often take stitch combinations from patterns for afghans and turn them into scarves or shawls for Special Olympics scarves, Prayer Shawls, or gifts for family and friends.

By: Ika Masume

Ika Masume — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 19:21:29 +0000

Wow. I never thought about that before. Thanks, Claire!