Crochet! Magazine, March 2011, Vol

Crochet

GoesBY GWEN BLAKLEY KINSLER Green

With its versatility and flexibility, crochet has made a smooth entry into the eco-friendly movement by incorporating a variety of natural and recycled materials into unique creations.

I would never be so presumptu- sparkling thread. I am particularly trend in crochet. In her chapter on ous as to try to improve on what proud that fashions in my closet using “junk,” Nicki Hitz Edson, Mother Nature has created, but I have come from resale shops, but author of Creative Crochet, says, am obsessed with crochet and am crochet is certainly not in the clos- “There’s no rule that says crochet on a lifelong quest to discover all et anymore! has to be done only with yarn. All that it can be. For years, I’ve been Crochet is no exception when kinds of material can be incorpo- busy covering my world in crochet it comes to the “green” movement rated as part of a design: beads, and have created a new perspective so prevalent today. The versatil- rings, stones, buttons and found to the common river rock, embel- ity of our flexible craft is a selling objects—either as decorative ex- lished T-shirts (Crochet! July 2004) point for avid crocheters. Call us tras or practical additions. Crochet with classic stitch patterns, and “twisted,” but our creativity can’t can also be combined with numer- enhanced costume jewelry with be lassoed! Over the centuries, if ous other crafts—leather macramé, it bends, we’ve tried to crochet it! ceramics, metallic work, weaving, We’re in an era of bustling crochet knitting, needlepoint, appliqué or innovation, so let’s explore how we Aunt Mary & Me,” can crochet to our hearts’ content crochet embel- lished ceramic and nurture an appreciation for mask done by au- conservation at the same time! thor’s Aunt. Cro- Looking back reminds me of cheted by Gwen Blakley Kinsler all that I owe to my talented fore- with raffia and mothers and forefathers who were jelly yarn. such creative and skillful crocheters. Probably all of us have a bit of “pack rat” in us, and I have my fair “Crochet on a Rock with a Twist of Lime,” share. Actually a recycled concept, crocheted over river rock with silk and metallic threads by Gwen Blakley Kinsler. this article revisits a popular 1970s

From Crochet! Magazine, March 2011, vol. 24, No. 2, Copyright © 2011 Crochet! Magazine sewing. Crochet offers an oppor- Tape Challenge’ arose in her Rav- tunity to take them a step further.” elry group (Laughing Purple (page 129) Goldfish Designs), it motivated Authors, Mary Tibbals Ventre me to stretch my design wings and (Crochet: A Basic Manual for Cre- finally make my penguin. I wanted ative Construction) and Del Pitt to use only recycled materials, so Feldman (The Crocheter’s Art) both I chose plarn for the orange and provide invaluable information on white bits, and soda-can tabs for this topic that is just as stimulating the feet and wings. I was intrigued today as it was in 1970s! by the thought of crocheting with Today we can contribute to en- VHS tape; it was the first and last vironmental cleanup by just being time! It breaks easily and is rough “Famous Faces Series” Postcard turned into a observant and by using materials on the hands, but was worth it be- cabochon and crocheted around with beads that others might consider waste. cause I won the contest!” and charm embellishment. Designed by Gwen Blakley Kinsler. Not only can we use up materials You may have a woven vest or that pile up in our life for crochet, but our creative results serve to ed- milk bottles make excellent rein- ucate the public about the fragility forcement or backing for a finished of the environment. Let’s look for- object like a brooch. Shapes cut ward now to some contemporary from the plastic can be crocheted crocheters whose work in this are- upon by punching holes around na is most exciting too. I got a little the edges to create earrings, for ex- help from my friends on Ravelry ample. There is no limit, then, to (www.ravelry.com). the shape or finished object. In the tradition written about All manner of things found by Hitz Edson, embroidery floss, around the house or in the bottom soda-can tabs, plarn (plastic yarn of drawers can become trinkets or VHS Tape Challenge: Penguin by Loren Gaggini, charms. Orphan earrings can serve recycled from plastic bags: www. made with VHS tape, plarn and soda-can tabs; crochetspot.com/how-to-make- photo by Loren Gaggini. as a decorative element. As a mat- plarn-plastic-yarn), wire, washers, ter of fact, Laughing Purple from Sunbury, Melbourne, Victoria, shoestrings can all be crocheted. fabric jacket that could be turned Australia, consistently offers chal- Loren Gaggini (Twisted1 on Rav- into a purse or pocket for cro- lenges to her followers. Sharon got elry) loves color, good design and cheted sweater. Crochet can eas- interested in recycling junk to use finding the right yarn to best show ily be applied to fabric with just with crochet mostly due to a tight off a pattern. Having been a pen- a fine hook or by punching holes budget! guin collector for many years, she along the edge with an awl. Out- She recalls, “I was delighted always wanted to design her own dated costume jewelry or a resale to be meeting so many others on- amigurumi version. She explains shop find can be given new life by line who had a shared passion for how she was inspired to get started. adding decorative crochet stitches recycling, and I wanted to bring “When Sharon Maher’s ‘VHS with fine metallic threads. Plastic them together as a group so that

DEFINING CROCHET ®

MARCH 2010 The NEW / CROCHETMAGAZINE.COM

A Little Feminine Frill digital version Adds a Lot of Flirty Style! FLUTTER of Crochet! CARDIGAN Make Multiple Covers For One Basic Bag is now here! PURSE-ONALITY PLUS! Warm a Homeless Child With a Cozy Hooded Scarf STITCHES OF LOVE 3 reasons to add a digital subscription to Crochet!: Instant access to two years of back issues! 1 You’ll be able to easily search for patterns, articles and how-to techniques—it’s all online for as long as you’re a digital subscriber! Zoom in on just what you want! Whether 2 it’s the current issue or a back issue, you can enlarge photos, text or diagrams to make things clearer and easier on your eyes. 3 Get a great value! At only pennies a pattern, it’s Zoom in on the smart way to build up your crochet library!

28 TEMPTING IDEAS/ Pitcher Cover: Protect Your Beverages! ®

DEFINING text and photos! CROCHET 29 FUN PROJECTS TO INSPIRE YOUR IMAGINATION! / Meditation Mask: Soothing Relaxation® 29 ENTICING IDEAS JULY 2009 / CROCHETMAGAZINE.COM DEFINING CROCHET ® DEFINING You’ll Love How You Look CROCHET In Our Cool Lace Duster

NOVEMBER 2009 / CROCHETM ® AGAZINE.COM 29 FRESH IDEAS! / Pretty for Easter: Holiday Finery for Little Girls OCEAN /Cute as a (Lady) Bug Dog Coat / CROCHETMAGAZINE.COM MAY 2009 DEFINING 26 NEW IDEAS Beautiful Boutique Style CROCHET BREEZES You Can Make for Less ! ® Create a Stunning 10 Projects to Make DEFINING SCARLET CROCHET Prizewinning Jacket! In a Weekend or Less TIME- SAV ER RUFFLES FANTASY CROCHET PURSE Combine Basic Stitches With Dazzling Flourishes Stitch Loving Co IN COLOR Stitch a Special Gift mfort For Alzheimer’s Patients Diagonal Stripes Give Unravel the Mystery of For Your Best Gal Pals! ROSES & Figure-Friendly Style Pattern Repeats CELEBRATE PURPLE LACE SCARF MAKING SENSE MA JESTY LAZY DAYS FRIENDS Stitch a Fashion Sensation OF MULTIPLES SH AW L Of Many Colors! Solve Your Gi JACKET ft-Gi Turn a Classic Neck Scarf Dilemma ving JOSEPH Into a Chic Tote With Great Make Either a Rug or Project Ideas! Doily From One Pattern! WRAP BANDANNA HOLIDAY Add Color and LATTICE ROSE Warmth With BAG SOLUTIONS Roving and Create Fun New Looks Mohair For the Basic Chevron RAZZLE DAZZLE THRUMS RIPPLES & LOCKS Learn Its History and Stitch a Lovely Lace Cuff IRISH CROCHET Get your digital subscription to Crochet! right now! $9.97 a year when added to a print subscription, $14.97 per year for digital only Digital.CrochetMagazine.com

When you sign up, you’ll get your first issue (and two-year archive access) immediately! From Crochet! Magazine, March 2011, vol. 24, No. 2, Copyright © 2011 Crochet! Magazine 28 INSPIRING IDEAS/ Fifth Avenue Hat: Uptown Style!

DEFINING CROCHET ®

MARCH 2010 The NEW / CROCHETMAGAZINE.COM we could share ideas. We now have teach young children how to cro- lous, please share with the readers A Little Feminine Frill over 400 members and our goal is chet with their fingers. Perfect! I of Crochet! by sending a digital im- digital version Adds a Lot of Flirty Style! FLUTTER to foster a supportive environment, managed four or five rows of single age to carol_alexander@drgnet- of Crochet! CARDIGAN where we encourage one another crochet, and we decided to adorn work.com. to experiment and indulge our cre- some weird old logging machinery Feldman, Del Pitt. The Crochet- Make Multiple Covers For One Basic Bag ative needs. We accept that we all with my creation. In conclusion, er’s Art. New York: Doubleday and is now here! PURSE-ONALITY PLUS! have plenty to learn and teach one we can assert that there are many Co. Inc., 1972 Warm a Homeless another, and we openly share the interpretations of the words ‘hook’ Hitz Edson, Nicki. Creative Child With a Cozy Hooded Scarf results of our experiments.” and ‘yarn.’” Crochet. New York: Watson-Guptil STITCHES OF LOVE To join this group go to www. Publications, 1973. ravelry.com/groups. Tibbals Ventre, Mary. Crochet: 3 reasons to add a digital Instead of going to the hard- A Basic Manual for Creative Con- subscription to Crochet!: ware to buy a rod or pole to sup- struction. Boston: Little Brown and Instant access to two years of back issues! port a wall hanging, enjoy the Co., 1974. 1 You’ll be able to easily search for patterns, serenity of a wooded area and articles and how-to techniques—it’s all online discover an interesting twig or for as long as you’re a digital subscriber! branch that will serve the purpose Zoom in on just what you want! Whether instead. While MsBusyFingers 2 it’s the current issue or a back issue, you can (Sarah Crittenden from West Tis- enlarge photos, text or diagrams to make bury, Mass., on the isle of Martha’s things clearer and easier on your eyes. Vineyard) was at the beach, she Get a great value! At only pennies a pattern, it’s encountered some really long ropes 3 the smart way to build up your crochet library! Zoom in on of bull kelp.

28 TEMPTING IDEAS/ Pitcher Cover: Protect Your Beverages! “Ever on the quest for interest- ®

DEFINING text and photos! CROCHET Finger crocheting with kelp; photo by Sarah 29 FUN PROJECTS TO INSPIRE YOUR IMAGINATION! / Meditation Mask: Soothing Relaxation® 29 ENTICING IDEAS JULY 2009 / CROCHETMAGAZINE.COM ing crochet experiences,” she said, DEFINING CROCHET ® Crittenden. DEFINING You’ll Love How You Look CROCHET In Our Cool Lace Duster

NOVEMBER 2009 ® / CROCHETM 29 FRESH IDEAS! AGAZINE.COM “I came to the obvious conclusion / Pretty for Easter: Holiday Finery for Little Girls OCEAN /Cute as a (Lady) Bug Dog Coat / CROCHETMAGAZINE.COM MAY 2009 DEFINING 26 NEW IDEAS Beautiful Boutique Style CROCHET BREEZES You Can Make for Less ! ® Create a Stunning 10 Projects to Make DEFINING SCARLET Prizewinning Jacket! In a Weekend or Less CROCHET that I should attempt to hook with TIME- SAV ER RUFFLES FANTASY CROCHET PURSE Combine Basic Stitches With Dazzling Flourishes Stitch Loving Co IN COLOR Stitch a Special Gift mfort For Alzheimer’s Patients Kelp sculpture crocheted by Sarah Crittenden; Diagonal Stripes Give Unravel the Mystery of For Your Best Gal Pals! ROSES & the kelp! I was ill-prepared for If you’re into recycling or cre- Figure-Friendly Style Pattern Repeats CELEBRATE PURPLE LACE SCARF MAKING SENSE MA JESTY LAZY DAYS FRIENDS Stitch a Fashion Sensation OF MULTIPLES SH AW L Of Many Colors! photo by Sarah Crittenden. Solve Your Gi JACKET Turn a Classic Neck Scarf ft-Giving JOSEPH such a venture, or so I thought un- ating challenges for yourself and Dilemma Into a Chic Tote With Great Make Either a Rug or Project Ideas! Doily From One Pattern! WRAP BANDANNA HOLIDAY Add Color and LATTICE ROSE Warmth With BAG SOLUTIONS Roving and Create Fun New Looks Mohair For the Basic Chevron til I remembered that some people have crocheted something fabu- RAZZLE DAZZLE THRUMS RIPPLES & LOCKS Learn Its History and Stitch a Lovely Lace Cuff IRISH CROCHET Get your digital subscription to Crochet! right now! $9.97 a year when added to a print subscription, $14.97 per year for digital only Digital.CrochetMagazine.com