Posts Tagged ‘Fun Ramblings’

The Crocheted Shawl for Spring

Posted in Fun Ramblings on April 10th, 2013 by Caissa "Cami" McClinton – 1 Comment

We’re well into April and I am here to tell you that spring is coming! I know that many of my friends in the northern United States have been battling a long and difficult winter. For me, there’s no lack of crochet inspiration up there. I’ve traditionally crocheted with larger yarns, typically worsted weight or higher, and scarves, hats, and cowls are always at the top of my project list. However, when it comes to springtime, and living in this hot and humid Florida climate, I need to turn my sights to lighter weight yarns and versatile, transitional garments. Enter the crocheted shawl.
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Focus on Fiber: Merino Wool

Posted in Fun Ramblings on March 30th, 2013 by Caissa "Cami" McClinton – 3 Comments

Today we continue our series of yarn chats with an elegant but hardworking powerhouse yarn, Merino wool. Our previous chats include Focus on Fiber: Acrylic Yarn, What’s in Your Stash?, and Yarn Obsession.

Known for its soft durability, Merino wool is a favorite among crocheters. It is quite popular among yarn crafters (and yarn hoarders 😉 ) in general, with over 1.6 million skeins stashed on Ravelry! Merino wool gets its name from the adorable Merino sheep. Originally a Spanish breed, the Merino sheep can now be found all over the world, including South America, Australia, North America, and Africa.
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March is National Crochet Month! (And Other Crochet Holidays)

Posted in Fun Ramblings on March 13th, 2013 by Caissa "Cami" McClinton – Be the first to comment

Yes, you heard correctly, my friends. In addition to being National Craft Month, and “coming in like a lion but going out like a lamb,” the third month of the year is annually dedicated to our favorite craft, crochet. In honor of this, I encourage you to share Crochet Spot with someone who might be interested. Tell your crafting friends to check us out and join the fun! And since it’s also National Caffeine Awareness Month, why not work on your crochet together at a local cafe? (Bring one of these to help reduce waste.) Crochet and caffeine go great together, but herbal tea works just as well! (I should know!)

Here is a list of other holidays and observances happening this month, along with suggestions on how to celebrate!
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Crocheting for Children

Posted in Fun Ramblings on February 28th, 2013 by Caissa "Cami" McClinton – 6 Comments

How many of you started to crochet when you knew a little one was on the way? I have definitely crocheted quite a few things for my little loved ones-both relatives and the children of friends. It seems like the perfect time for the hooks to come out is when we know someone has a “bun in the oven!” There are many advantages to crocheting for little ones. Additionally, baby projects may be perfect for beginners! Here are a few reasons I love crocheting for children.
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Crocheting with Friends

Posted in Fun Ramblings on February 13th, 2013 by Caissa "Cami" McClinton – 11 Comments

I am always astounded by the versatility of our craft. While crochet is perfect as a solo activity, maybe relaxing on the porch with some tea in the evening, it makes a fine group activity as well. Stitching while chatting over coffee with friends adds an entirely new dimension to the crafting experience.

I have to admit, my love of fiber crafting was very clearly driven by connecting to a craft community. At first this community was online, through podcasts and my personal blog. I later joined Ravelry and started a crafting group in Mexico City. It took me a long time and a lot of perseverance, but I finally attracted a core group of similar yarn lovers and we shared tips, patterns, encouragement, and most of all, friendship. We eventually became the first Mexican chapter of the Crochet Guild of America, Ganchitos Mexico City. The Ganchitos are still going strong although I’ve changed locales.
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Fiber Art as Playground by Toshiko Horiuchi MacAdam

Posted in Fun Ramblings on February 6th, 2013 by Caissa "Cami" McClinton – 11 Comments

I thought we’d take a peek into the world of crocheted artworks every now and then. This week we’ll talk about Japanese and Canadian artist Toshiko Horiuchi MacAdam.

When appreciating the massive artworks by MacAdam, you don’t have to keep your hands off the art. Many of her works are literally colorful playgrounds meant for children to enjoy, but they didn’t start out that way. The idea was born when children climbed onto a gallery installation resembling a hammock. MacAdam observed as her artwork as it changed shape and was inspired.
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February’s Crochet Holidays 2013

Posted in Fun Ramblings on February 2nd, 2013 by Caissa "Cami" McClinton – 2 Comments

We began our discussion of crocheting for the holidays here, but I wanted to take it even further. I think holidays are lots of fun, and there are some very unusual holidays that I’ve found, along with our old favorites. I thought it would be fun to match Crochet Spot patterns with holidays each month. We don’t need an excuse to crochet, but a little motivation never hurt! Here are some of February’s fun and fabulous occasions to crochet!

Bubble Gum Day – February 1 – Crochet one of these quick and beautiful bags and fill it with bubble gum to give to a friend. 🙂

Ballet Day – February 7 – Ballerinas are known not only for their grace, but also for their hairstyles. Crochet one of these three bun covers for a ballet enthusiast in your life.

Valentines Day – February 14 – One way to show you care is by giving this sweet heart to your sweetheart.

Love Your Pet Day – February 20 – Spoil your pet with a new dog bone or cat toy.

Academy Awards Night – February 24 – Whether you are on your couch or on the red carpet, rock it granny square style! 😉

National Tooth Fairy Day – February 28 – Your child will love placing his or her lost tooth in this and finding money the next day!

What do you think of these crochet holidays? What else would you recommend to celebrate these or any other February observances?

Focus on Fiber: Acrylic Yarn

Posted in Fun Ramblings on January 22nd, 2013 by Caissa "Cami" McClinton – 21 Comments

Since it’s so much fun, I thought we should continue our yarn chat on a regular basis, with a focus on different types of fibers and their qualities. I thought we should start our fiber-specific conversation with the basic standby, acrylic yarn.

Acrylic is probably the most common type of yarn. It is very popular. In fact, good old Red Heart Super Saver has been used in almost 107,000 projects on Ravelry. Acrylic yarns are readily available at big box stores and craft stores, and they are relatively inexpensive, making acrylic very accessible.

Did you know that acrylic is made from petroleum? That’s right. The same substance that runs your car warms you with that brightly colored afghan you made. Aside from afghans, acrylic yarn is popular for all kinds of projects.

Acrylic is loved for its easy care. Because it can be machine washed and dried, it is an excellent choice for baby and child garments. It is soft to the touch and popular in warm garments. It also drapes well, particularly when blocked with steam. One drawback to acrylic is that it can pill easily, but pilling can be minimized with hand washing and drying flat.

Do you have any fun facts about acrylic? What is your opinion on acrylic?

Keeping in Touch with Crochet

Posted in Fun Ramblings on January 15th, 2013 by Caissa "Cami" McClinton – 2 Comments

Do you like to keep in touch with old friends and colleagues? I do! Even though there are always more and more ways to stay connected, my favorite way to receive correspondence is through old fashioned, handwritten mail. There is nothing quite like opening up a personalized letter or card. Aside from crochet, another favorite hobby of mine is making greeting cards. I thought it would be fun to combine that craft with crochet.

Because greeting cards are relatively small compared to many crochet projects, it would be best to use thin yarn or thread and small hooks. In general, I think it’s fun to explore the ways a crochet pattern transforms by changing the hook and yarn size, so this could be a fascinating project! You could take a larger, flat project and scale it down, making an applique for the front of your card. Of course, there are lots of quick patterns that would fit onto either a folded or flat card just as they are.

For instance, I think the Cherry Applique would be adorable on a card! Since it’s only 2 x 1.5 inches, it’s the perfect size for an invitation. A simple granny square done in sock yarn would look beautiful covering the front of a square card. In that case, if your yarn is variegated, then you wouldn’t even have to switch colors. These appliques could be attached using simple white glue or tacky glue. It might be a good idea to apply it with a toothpick, so your card doesn’t weaken with the liquid glue. It will take a little bit of trial and error before you get the perfect adhesion to the front of your card. If you don’t want to use glue, you could always just forget the appliques altogether and crochet a simple edging onto a plain greeting card.

As you can see, there are lots of possibilities! Have you ever used crochet to keep in touch? Which Crochet Spot patterns do you think would be cute on greeting cards? Please also let me know if you’re going to try this. I love hearing from you!

Crocheting with Intention

Posted in Fun Ramblings on January 8th, 2013 by Caissa "Cami" McClinton – 26 Comments

Crochet is a craft that can help you through. I’ve heard many stories from people who have crafted through illnesses, depression, and other tough times. The simple act of creating something and watching it grow can be a revelation. Being productive with crochet when other activities are too hard is a gift that inspires people to go on.

I’ve also heard of people crocheting prayer shawls, where the crafter stitches not only with yarn, but with intention that is focused in the crochet. It sounds like a beautiful act of love. Imagine receiving a prayer shawl from a loved one or community member.

Of course there are many organizations that coordinate charitable donations of crochet. Popular items are chemo caps, blankets, and warm scarves. I recently donated 13 items to families affected by Hurricane Sandy to Project Linus New Jersey, Inc.

When have you crocheted with intention? Have you used crochet to help you through or to create a prayer shawl? Have you ever donated crochet to a charity?