Intarsia or color-work ideas?
Brand-newbie to CMe here. Just got Kim's book delivered yesterday and instantly decided my new lifetime project will be to make Annette's Leaves Sweater even if it ends up being the UFO they bury me with -- it's just TOOOOO gorgeous . . .
Anyway, here's what I'm looking for help with. I have a friend who wants me to make him another afghan, solid color with his initial *D* in the middle in contrast. I'm struggling with workable ideas but I'll throw out a few.
The first was to instantly discard the idea of doing it as a single piece (I'd lose my mind trying to count rows and row stitches to know exactly where to begin the contrasting to center it). So the solution to that was to do a center square of ~2 ft w/ initial, and then do the rest of the body patterned either as a border or additional squares. (BTW, I'll probably at least add some of the contrast as a centerpiece border and/or widely spaced contrast row(s) in the border-body, or finish the multi-square with the contrast border.)
My problem right now is working the contrast color change for the letter legs. I expect each one will be ~10 sts wide/6 high. I've been practicing my intarsia but it seems to be limited to only SC -- I can't figure out how to carry the yarn up to be close enough to pick up for the next row in anything other than SC. And for only 10 st twice in a row, I don't want to cut yarn and do all that weaving with a taller st. With so little contrast on the background I really can't carry and crochet over the contrast yarn without it showing thru.
I've considered cross-stitch, but that's absolutely limited to SC. My other alternative is surface crochet, but I'm worried it may look too chunky and funky. In case it isn't clear, I really don't want to do such a large swath of SC only for the center -- enough rows of my 2ft swatch convinced me it's too heavy mainly . . . but also too boring. And doing it as straight filet mesh is the opposite -- too open for an afghan.
Any ideas for getting the yarn up for the next row? I might be able to do a pattern for the square working with/around taller sts for the contrast if I can solve this.
Any other ideas I've missed by overthinking it? My only RL crochet buddy tapped out at cross-stitching :-(.
THX bunches!
MCM
Search
About mekacatsmom
About Me:
It's the same w/ most things I do -- I get really ambitious . . . and so here I am. I've done a few simple pieces (my first were a purse and 2 *tube* shrugs I did on the fly from a general idea I skeeked from a Michael's pattern flyer, besides the poncho cape from scratch that never worked out :-( ), moved on to other doodads and afghans and have run out of people to make them for, and now I'm hungry for new things to keep me busy that won't pile up or clutter up -- thus my interest in wearables so my creativity can be purposeful. I learned to crochet around age 10 but, as best I can remember, never really *made* anything other than those curly bookmarks. I decided to take it back up 2 years ago for a single project (that purse) and got myself hooked ;-). Also, I'm incredibly chea- frugal and find it challenging to find inexpensive yarn (per yd) that isn't that low-market worsted acrylic for things other than the afghans. My taste has made some creep in my miserly ways but I'm still a long way from bringing myself to splurge on the high-end stuff.
- + Print-friendly
- + Email This Page
- 508 reads
Would it work to crochet with two strands together on the center square, dropping and carrying one strand of yarn only during the letter part? I know it wouldn't be as defined a contrast, but maybe it would look cool.
mad for crochet!
Be very careful here. Haven't you heard of the curse of gifting a boyfriend with a hand knitted sweater? Crocheted afghans may carry a similar danger. :D
If you do intarsia in the usual way, for color changes, you can devise a way to weave the vertical strand in as you make the first stitch with the new color.
As a matter of fact, there's a stitch in the old Harmony Guides called a link stitch that would do. Pick up two or three loops from the side of the previous dc/tc, working over that long strand, and one from the stitch on the previous row and work them off two loops at a time as you do for a regular dc or tc. Maybe Google can find some examples of a link dc or link tc.
Hmm, you could work the whole letter like this so there would be a texture contrast as well as a color contrast.
BTW, are you thinking you have to cut the yarn at every color change, every row? No, just drop the current color and pick up the next. You'll need five balls of yarn.
Thx, Sarah and Pauline. I think I actually saw an article here last nite on the link stitch that I glanced thru, because I remember a warning about watching your row so you don't lose the vertical direction at the end. I might try swatching to see if I can get it. I was trying NOT to have to cut and weave every row but couldn't get the yarn up and it bleakly looked to be the best possibility.
BTW, he's no bf, just a friend who adores the ripple in his fave OSU Buckeye colors I made last winter. I think he's getting greedy wanting another, but hey, it's a project, right?
I've made a scarf for a future bf, and it worked out ok... for 5 months. But that's not my problem.
I have this friend, and she commissions me to make hats and stuff for her. Her latest vision for me is that I make her a black beanie, and that I work a skull and crossbones into it. She liked that better than the ironic anarchy symbol... but anyone want to suggest a) a way to map out on paper the pattern and b) the best way to go about making this?
Thanks in advance!
Toward the back of the book is a pattern for skully potholders. I think you could start with that. I don't recall crossbones. There may not be enough room for them anyway.
Thanks!