Hi from Seattle
Hi everyone, I'm new here and new to crochet (first touched a hook in July '08, I think). I've been heading toward the Victorian past--reading Jane Austen, watching Upstairs Downstairs on video and Victorian House on PBS. I also bought an old Raleigh bicycle this summer, and started waxing canvas to make waterproof clothing for riding in the rain. Maybe watching Project Runway with my wife was what made me think I could try crochet. Once I realized how FUN it is, I was hooked!
I'm still a beginner, but I'd rather make something worthwhile than something boring no matter how hard it may be; I don't think I'll ever make anything with yarn thicker than sport weight! I've made some thread bracelets and scarves for my daughters, and a scarf and a sturdy belt for myself. I'm nearly done with a new shade for a desk lamp (the original one was glass; it broke while I was using it for crochet). I'm designing a scarf for my Mom for Christmas, and would like to make an amigurumi toy for my little neice--she's coming for Thanksgiving.
Thanks for the chance to introduce myself, and I look forward to learning from you and sharing photos of my projects!
ps -- In case you're wondering about my avatar it's Oscar, one of our parrots. He's an African Grey, and a good talker!
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Hi Maxbox51 and fellow Northwesterner!
I just read your tip, very interesting, mixing cotton and alpaca threads.
My father-in-law had some canvas logger's pants called tin pants that could stand on their own. I'll bet they were waxed canvas. They also looked highly uncomfortable. Well, for me there's REI, lol.
Pauline
Hi Pauline! Yes, tin cloth is a name for a waxed canvas; it is usually made by soaking heavy canvas in paraffin wax dissolved in turpentine, and letting the turpentine evaporate out. Part of the goal is to make tin cloth not only waterproof, but a good defense against thorns and falling branches that a logger might run into.
What I made were more like chaps. They are lightly waxed, only a little stiffer than jeans. I made them out of some Dockers twill slacks that no longer fit; so the only cost was about $8 of palm kernel wax. It was dead simple: I cut them to shape, hemmed the new edges, added a belt and straps to hold it to me, and then just ironed the wax into the cloth using aluminum foil to keep the wax off the iron (don't use an iron you want to use for anything else!). You can wax muslin or any cotton cloth you want this way, and even a small amount of wax makes water bead and run off.
A lot of cyclists buy high-tech rain pants from REI, then find they get just as drenched with sweat as they would with rain. These chaps work great; they shed the rain, and I don't get sweaty because they are open in back. They aren't very fashionable, though; the wax made ugly white blotches on the dark blue slacks I used. This is probably why the pros use the turpentine method!
Max Robinson
Seattle WA USA
Hello!! I am from Seattle too. Nice to see some local crocheters. I tend to crochet on my bus ride to and from work. I even have people stop me on the street "hey aren't you the girl who crochets on the bus??!" It is a nice time killer when making my way downtown from Ballard. I generally stick to small projects like scarves (they make great gifts) on the bus, but at home I do blankets and stuffed animals too.
Happy Crocheting!!
Leona
Woo Hoo
More seattle people .... Yeah
I am making women's tops in a tunisian weave.
Got a great pattern & tunisian helped me learn alot of crazy stitches quickly.
Easy once you see it!
Welcome from sunny CA! I am going up to Seattle this summer and I can't wait to see the area... my brother and SIL live in Portland so they know the area pretty well. Supposedly there are some awesome yarn stores so I am very excited to go.
I would love to see more of your work.