Stumbling Into Discovery: Venetian Lace

Looking at one thing led to another, and a site where motifs  and their symbol charts were displayed: http://www.otiskyprstu.ic.cz/minidecky.htm

One in particular caught my fancy and I made it as part of my do-something-daily for National Crochet Month and the Party , Crochet Along (CAL) in Freeform (FF) at Ravelry.

Seems it caught the eye of another crocheter, too.
http://gmaellenscraftycorner.wordpress.com/2012/06/01/crochet-diagrams-i-figured-this-one-out-now-what-to-do/

When I shared my effort, a couple of partygoers mentioned Venetian Lace.  Knowing an opportunity to learn when I see one, I did another google surf of images and saw what I would describe as file squares framed by picoted arches. I had tried picot arches last year, after becoming infatuated with them last year from a Duplet magazine.

Here’s a link to an about.com article from 1999 that tells you how, step by step, to make Venetian Crochet: Patterns For 1915 Motif, Collar and Lace Edging

http://crochet.about.com/library/n061999.htm.  The modern directions give you clues, but it still goes astray in terms of sequence of events.  I gave up on the sequence as written ,and made the loops, then covered them, using this process for both levels and made a Venetian Square:

 Loren Gaggini, one of the wonderful creators on Ravelry, very kindly shared this gorgeous image of a piece made by a family member. 

She writes "It was cool to see an (almost) duplicate in the magazine: Crochet Traditions, Fall 2012, p. 48-49 titled “A Vintage Venetian Border”. The article is not credited but the source of the original pattern is: “An Embroidered Teacloth, with Border in Venetian Crochet” by Anna Hapgood, originally appearing in the December 1916 issue of Needlecraft Magazine. Whitney Dorband is credited with crocheting the sample in the photo on p. 48"

Of Elephants and Inspiration

There is a National Crochet Month Party going on at Ravelry and I've been partying.
This has meant  several low-sleep nights and lots of time on the net, looking, pinning new discoveries on my Crochet Inspirations Pinterest board, chatting with  crocheters I haven't written since last year's blow out.  It's like an artist's retreat
without the physical relocation. But in the same way that the right poetry prompt  seeds your next unfolding and the doing it with others fuels creating, as does the dialyness of effort, well there are all the ingredients for new growth and learning spurt.

Last year yielded so much work that still needs to be finished. This year promises more of the same.

The prompt was to look up from your computer and  consider what you see. Above me is an elephant that my younger brother sent me. He remembered me and I was so deeply touched that in a time when most have abandoned me, he hasn't. So it is both what it is, an evocation of creatures that I admire, and an embrace.  

I collect elephants and he's the first person in my life to ever give me one ( and since getting her, someone else has given me several).

She is covered in leaves, so I looked for a leaf like those on her. It was an opportunity to try some patterns. And then I made several elephant heads. 
Then I worked on a pattern which I've named Elephant Love: 

60% of this pattern's sales will go to Elephant Conservation, because these beautiful beings are under threat.

Happy National Crochet Month

Welcome and thanks for visiting during National Crochet Month!

To celebrate, I’m offering a stitch tutorial and, for three days, a new free pattern.

Charity of the Month: Project Night Night

Project Night Night is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides over 25,000 Night Night Packages to homeless children each year.  Each package consists of a new sturdy tote bag with a new security blanket, an age-appropriate children’s book, and a stuffed animal.  These comfort objects help to reduce the trauma of homelessness. Both the handmade blankets and stuffed animals provide the children with objects of love and security.

You can help Project Night Night by making and sending in a new crocheted blankets (50” x 60” or smaller) and/or making a financial donation. I love that it lists the shelters it serves, so if you prefer, you could find one in your community or hometown to support.
Here’s where to donate goods: http://projectnightnight.org/DonateItems.html
Here’s where to  donate money: http://projectnightnight.org/Donate.html

The Crochet Guild of America

I’m an associate professional member of the Crochet Guild of America (CGOA), which offers two national conferences each year with an extensive list of crochet classes, an annual Design Competition, and a Master of Advanced Crochet Stitches and Techniques program.  I’ve benefited greatly from the community, as there is none locally to sustain and encourage me.

 

Crochet Tour Details

 
Here’s a link to the Crochetville blog post with the full list of participants: http://crochetville.com/a-tour-through-crochet-country-natcromo-blog-tour/

March 3 Phyllis Serbes Mona Muhammad

March 4 Amy O'Neill Houck  Akua Lezli Hope

March 5 Mary Jane Hall  Lindsey Stephens

Check out my patterns at

Ravelry

http://www.ravelry.com/designers/akua-lezli-hope/patterns

Free Patterns

Single-Crochet Based Maple Leaf

Akua's Daisy 

Crocheted Knitted Leaves

Hope's Birds

My store at Etsy includes my creations as well as my patterns:

http://www.akuadesigns.etsy.com

 

Stitch Tutorial: Orange Wedges

Regular crochet meets Tunisian in this stitch called orange wedges, which creates little wedges/scallops/shells. This adds raised texture and dimension to your work.  It’s an elevated fan, a fiber Mohawk, a waving shell.  I love it for it’s quirkiness a quick decorative effect.
From where you are (or want to be) on a piece, chain 9. Turn, and starting with the second chain from hook, working in the back/bump of the chain, pull up a loop in each chain, keeping each loop on the hook. Yarn over  and pull through all the loops on the hook. Chain 1 to secure. Sc in next stitch, or make more right there by putting a couple of chain spaces between and repeating ( this takes you further off the fabric). You may vary the number of chains and thereby the size of your wedge – my next favorite number is 12.

Free Pattern March 3-5:  Pockets and Pillows Motif

Two of my favorite texture stitches emboss and figure this circular motif.  An intermediate-level pattern, or a challenging introduction to some of yarns stuffing and shaping possibilities for a beginner http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pillows-and-pockets-motif

CrochetSavvy

I’m assistant editor at http://www.crochetsavvy.com/HOME.html.  I'm looking for poetry about crocheting, and invite folks to send their creations. Launched in May 2012,  Crochet Savvy Magazine features up-and-coming crochet designers, bloggers, and yarn spinners. CSM goes behind the scenes of crocheting by providing tutorials, book recommendations and how-to’s.  CSM promotes new designers and yarn spinners to the huge community of crochet fans and supporters who want fun, fashionable, trendy patterns and looks.  In addition to its web presence, CSM is also available by digital download via iBooks through the Apple App Store/iTunes.

Joy in the making!

Akua Lezli Hope