crochet fail
January 21st, 2010
There have been a few crochet projects recently that I have just had to rip out–that cute and jumpy word “frogged” is just not going to cut it here, because I spent precious time working on them, they looked liked hell and then I had to start the fuck over. Here is one example:
This is what happens when you try and crochet over a paper lantern. I wanted a new light fixture for our bedroom because staring at a cheap paper lantern hanging from a bare bulb starts to looks extra crappy in the wee hours of the morning (when you are nursing and staring at the ceiling, wrecked from nursing all night long) but didn’t have any extra cash to get one, or really even make one. I thought lantern would look nice and cozy with a crocheted cover. I had some extra chunky white yarn from this project, so I quickly got to work. I’ve never really made up a pattern from scratch before and it was a little more frustrating than I thought it would be and it took a lot longer. And then because I was running out of yarn and stretching it just a little too tight literally with the very last stitch I broke the shade. Shit. Yeah yeah, maybe it a good thing, now when I make it again I might be able to write a pattern, but still, shit.
I am working on another crochet project (my sewing machine is gathering dust!) and it has not failed yet.
Hexagons for a bathmat. It’s a japanese pattern and my first project worked from a crochet chart (I found it on ravelry here and here is the original site). I’m warming up because I bought this book and I want to make every single project in it. Speaking of ravelry, it looks like there is a sewing equivalent getting going call The Woven! There are a lot of sewing forums out there that are great (craftster, cut out and keep) but this looks more like ravelry and it’s nicely thought out. It would be a welcome addition I think.
YAY! I’ve been waiting for the sewn “ravelry”. Yahoo!
And my condolences. Pure genius (like crocheted lantern covers) does not come cheap. I am awaiting the pattern. Please hurry.
okay, that bathmat is amazing. and i too like the idea of a sewing ravelry though i’m scared about how much time i could lose to it. i think i need less distractions from making things (as if babies aren’t enough) because ravelry is quite an addiction for me.
good luck with the hexes, and all the patterns in that book are amazing. what a great find.
I’ll have to check out the Woven. Have you seen BurdaStyle. It seems like it could be as awesome as Ravelry, but it’s not. Maybe it just needs time?
Ok, could you maybe salvage the light cover by crocheting the circle thing that came off onto the cover? Could you maybe get rid of the paper all together and just use the metal parts? Or do you need the paper to keep the structure? Does this make any sense? I dunno. I’ve been on a fail streak lately, so I can sympathize.
oh that book! I see what you mean… the patterns are gorgeous. Off to check out Woven – thanks for the link.
oh good luck with that!
I think it’s a great idea.
Too bad the lantern didn’t work. Maybe you could try doing it around a large balloon, stiffen it and then pop the balloon? They can’t all be winners, I guess. I’ve got a pile of yarns that I can’t even look at without remembering the fantastic failures they were once a part of….
Good luck with the next go! And that bathmat will be fantastic!
“…that cute and jumpy word “frogged” is just not going to cut it here, because I spent precious time working on them, they looked liked hell and then I had to start the fuck over.”
This sentence totally sums up 70% of my crochet projects.
I bet that bathmat is going to be AWESOME though!
I don’t crochet, but still, I feel your pain. I have so many damn projects in a box that are half finished because something went awry and I just could not find the courage to return to it. I need to dig a grave in the spring and just bury it all. The crafting graveyard.
I can’t help with the crochet, because yarn and I are not friends lol. But thank you for letting me know about Woven..I’m SOOOO excited!
I wouldn’t fret too much about the light cover – I’m wondering if the tight stitch wouldn’t have made it to where it completely blocked the light anyway? It still sucks though, and I can totally relate. I’ve just spent the better part of the first three weeks of the year on a knitted sweater vest THAT I WILL NEVER WEAR BECAUSE IT IS U. G. L. Y.
Thanks for the links! I’m excited to check them out!
thanks for the info about the woven! and sorry about the failed crochet. that really sucks to spend all that time and then be unhappy with the results.
Thanks for sharing a failure. I feel that way sometimes too. I read too many blogs that make it seem like I’m the only one who makes crap sometimes.
The bathmat looks awesome! I’m being a little nosy, but I’m concerned that none of your hexagons are connected. Aren’t you going to connect them as you go? (found your blog by watching craftypod’s google reader masterclass. yay!)
Be careful, Japanese craft books are addicting. The bath mat looks great – I may have to make that one myself (as if I need more things on my ‘stuff i want to make’ list.)
hi there i’ve been reading your blog(love it!) and was wondering if you thought about using fabric stiffener?to add structure to the lampshade.
[…] finished the hexagon bathmat that I started a while back. Thanks in part to Alice from futuregirl. She saw the photo I put up of it and emailed to say I […]