I’m very excited this week, as we come to the Turkish spindle, the fourth post in our series “Spindles Around the World“. So far we’ve discussed the drop spindle and the Navajo spindle. The Turkish drop spindle is incredible, in that the yarn is wound around the whorl, creating a ball of yarn that slides off the shaft and is ready to use! Amazing!

Photo by Snyder Spindles

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In the fiber arts world, the Navajo people are recognized for their world-renown rugs and other woven textiles. As a teacher on the Navajo Nation for over a decade, I was able to see the beautiful handcraft in my students’ dresses and belts that they wore on special days such as class pictures and the school Christmas concert. For spinners, the Navajo spindle is well-known for its simple but graceful design. In our third post in the Spindles Around the World Series, we will be discussion the Navajo spindle, traditionally used by Navajo and Pueblo people in the southwestern United States.

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Do you love the intricate look of filet crochet but can’t get your spaces to come out right? Do your “squares” look like “rectangles”? This is a common problem that can happen to any crocheter, but is easy to fix. Grab your crochet hook and your favorite thread and let’s get busy! In this tutorial I’ll give you a few pointers to get those squares looking square.

After understanding the basics in filet crochet, many crocheters run into the same problem. After completing a few rows or a section or even an entire piece, they realize that their filet open and closed spaces (also called “squares”, “mesh”, “blocks” and others) have more of a rectangle shape. What do we do to fix this?
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In my doily nerd opinion, the only thing better than a doily is a vintage doily. But how can crocheters today achieve the look of a vintage doily? In this post we will be traveling back in time to the days when every household had doilies on display and every armchair had antimacassars. (What is an antimacassar? Read on…) I will be discussing the thread and patterns needed to achieve the vintage look.

Flowering Pine Doily Pattern

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Have you ever dreamed of owning a spinning wheel, looked at various wheels online, only to notice their price tags, causing you to run screaming from the room? No? Well, I definitely have! Spinning wheels seem to run an average of $500 and up. Check them out, I’m not exaggerating. Scary, right? Well, today I am going to show you the spinning wheel that I received as a Christmas gift. And, SHOCK, it costs around $100. And, (drum roll please…) the maker of this wheel is offering all Crochet Spot readers a free hand carved crochet hook with every purchase! Woo hoo! Its Christmas all over again!

Spindle Wheel by Home Spun Creations

For years I have dreamed of owning a spinning wheel. No- I mean this literally. I seriously had dreams about owning a spinning wheel. But, the prices of most spinning wheels are totally out of my price range. So you can imagine how delighted I was to find a wheel that costs around $100!

Before I go any further I want to assure everyone that I am not affiliated with this company or getting anything from them for this review. I simply want to share information about a product that I personally own and use that I feel is a great product!
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Have you wanted to give Tunisian Crochet a try, but don’t have a Tunisian hook yet? Have you caught the Tunisian bug, but don’t know where to start? Have I got the project for you! Let’s try a Tunisian crochet project using a regular crochet hook! How about a Tunisian Crochet Sampler Scarf?

First of all, what is Tunisian Crochet? Tunisian crochet is a form of crocheting that uses a long crochet hook. The long hook is necessary because as you crochet right to left (or left to right if you are left handed), the stitches are left on the hook, similarly to knitting. Then, to complete the row, you must crochet back, left to right (or right to left if you are left handed), finishing stitches as you return. Sometimes a Tunisian crochet hook will have a cord or tube attached to it, to hold the stitches for a longer project like an afghan. With many Tunisian crochet stitches, the finished fabric has a knit-look and the fabric is thick. I absolutely love the look of the Tunisian knit stitch in particular.

Abby wearing my Tunisian Crochet Sampler Scarf

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For post #2 of the monthly series, “Hand Spindles Around the World”, we have the drop spindle! Probably the most popular type of spindle, particularly in the U.S. and Europe, the drop spindle is perfect for the beginner and the experienced spinner alike. With practice, all crocheters can learn to spin with a drop spindle. As you can see in the photo to the right, even Abigail, my four-year-old, is learning to spin!

As I wrote in the first post in the series, spindles come in two forms: drop spindles and supported spindles. Supported spindles come in many varieties, but the drop spindle comes in only three forms, the low whorl, high whorl, and center whorl drop spindle. A drop spindle works (like all spindles) by twisting loose fibers together, which binds them. They come in everything from very simple, plain forms, to highly decorated spindles that are carved and painted. I’ve even seen drop spindles with in-laid gemstones!
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If you can make a chain stitch and work a double crochet stitch you can make beautiful pieces of art work with filet crochet. Have you wanted to try filet crochet but haven’t taken the plunge yet? Don’t wait any longer! I have some tips for you to get started on this new endeavor!

“Laura Ingall’s Wilder Doily”

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I’ve been meaning to talk to you about something for quite some time. It’s embarrassing, I know. But, it needs to be said. You have visible seams on your hats! Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone; I have a quick fix that will change your winter hats forever! Everyone drop your hooks! Repeat after me…”I… will… not… make… hats… with… visible… seams… ever… again.”

Whether crocheted in half double crochet, single crochet, or double crochet, many winter hat patterns end up with a visible “seam” in the back of the hat where one round ends and the next begins. The picture below to the left shows a few hats with visible seams.
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Hello, my name is Molly and I’m a doily nerd. Yes, that’s what I said, a doily nerd! I love doilies of all shapes, sizes, and types: ruffled doilies, vintage doilies, oblong, square, and rectangle doilies. Did you know there are doily patterns with 3D swans? Here’s my question for you- Why haven’t you started your first doily!? I remember your New Year’s resolution from 2012. You haven’t made one yet, have you? Well, here’s a few tips to get you started!

Many crocheters have a fear of the tiny, tiny crochet thread. But don’t worry, we can tackle that! There is nothing to be afraid of! It’s just like switching from bell bottoms to skinny jeans- a little tight at first, but then you get used to them!
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