“Red Carpet Ready” Crochet

By Caissa "Cami" McClinton – 2 Comments

How many of you love watching awards shows? I definitely think it’s fun, although I could do without all of the judgment about who looks terrible. I love to see the celebrities dressed up in their finery, but the catty criticism has got to go! They usually all look great, and if they don’t- oh well! They should still be having fun attending the Oscars! Right?

Anyway, since film awards season has finally culminated in the ultimate gala, the Academy Awards, I was thinking about how crochet can be glamorous. Crochet is a very versatile craft and has a long history of being used for formal wear. Futhermore, many major celebrities crochet, including Alyssa Milano, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Eva Longoria, and Meryl Streep! (Source) So why not glam it up with crochet?

Imagine you’re attending a gala and would like to accessorize your formal dress with crochet. Before you say that you never attend formal events, don’t forget that prom & wedding seasons are just around the corner, so you just may have occasion to try these suggestions & Crochet Spot patterns!

1. Choose Luxurious Yarn. Instead of your usual standbys, make your crochet finer by using softer, silkier strands. I adore crocheting with silk and silk blends, but cashmere, angora, and even 100% mink are options! Choose a yarn that is colored with intensity, like maybe a kettle-dyed or hand-painted option, as this will give depth to your project. Could you imagine Rachel’s gorgeous Knot Stitch Shawl made from a glossy 100% silk yarn?

2. Try Sparkle Yarn. Have you noticed that many of the major yarn companies have come out with sparkle yarns in the past year or so? Even if you don’t want to spend more on the luxury yarns mentioned above, you can still ramp up the glam factor by using a yarn spun with a glittery filament. There are also some great options with sequins ocurring every few inches or so. These crochet up beautifully and may just compliment your formal wear perfectly. Rachel’s Quick Clutch would shine if crocheted in sparkle yarn AND hold all of your evening necessities!

3. Crochet Wire Jewelry. No formal ensemble is complete without at least one bauble. While we may not have access to the million-dollar jewels from Jacob & Co, we can still prance with pride showing off a perfectly personalized pendant. Maybe you’ve tried wire crochet, and maybe not, but the technique yields a dramatic and beautiful result. If you’re new to the technique, you might want to try it with base metal wire first. Then if you’re feeling confident, you can upgrade to sterling silver wire to make Candace’s Wire Ball Pendant.

4. Add Beads to Your Crochet. Glass beads, crystals, or semi-precious stone beads can make crochet shine while adding weight and even improving drape on light garments and accessories. No pattern suggestion here, but if you want to know how to add beads to crochet, try these tutorials on Single Crocheting with Beads and Double Crocheting with Beads. Feel free to add beads to any crochet project!

What were your favorite red carpet moments from this awards season? Do you think you’ll be making any crochet formal wear this season? Please share your project ideas and opinions in the comments below!

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2 Comments

  1. Catriona says:

    Hi, thanks again for sharing so many lovely patterns!
    I absolutely agree with you that luxury yarns can look lovely 🙂 But I’d just add that it’s better to make sure that yarns like angora, mink and merino are sourced from somewhere that is cruelty-free. I think that this sends a positive message to manufacturers and makes sure our lovely yarn creations that make us so happy didn’t make something else miserable first 🙂

  2. carol says:

    I really enjoyed the Oscar’s this year… Ellen did a great job hosting as she did not insult the actors with her humor like others have done.. and the dresses were gorgeous. i thank you for the great ideas, i have a macramé shawl that was my mother’s. it is made from gros grain ribbon and is fabulous. i only use it for special occasions.. a few beads, a little sparkle make the simplelest design really glamorous..and your site has some great tutorials. thanks again.

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