Wild Jigsaw Knit Crochet

Three New Tutorials Coming

2010-12-11T23:11:00.000-08:00

I'm working on three new tutorials for freeform crochet. One is for a headband, and one is for an embellished store bought sweater, and the other is a techniques video.
I made the sample piece. Working with small needles and yarn makes my hands tired faster, so I figured I better let my hands rest a few days.

Hyperbolic Crochet

2009-09-23T11:28:00.000-07:00

Science meets crochet in a crazy and vast reef project. http://theiff.org/oexhibits/05b.html This is similar to the curly whirly scarves I've made before and I can't wait to explore it further. Not to mention a great use of all those odd balls of yarn we all end up with.

More Jigsaw Crochet

2009-08-21T00:27:00.000-07:00

Today when we were going through boxes of old projects, I found some jigsaw knitting so tonight I got to add some orange and some teal to it. I did single crochet, double crochet, half double crochet and bouillon knots. It's very colorful. I hope I have the guts to wear it.

Two Necklaces

2009-07-15T10:25:00.000-07:00

This morning I finished one free form crocheted necklace with beads and almost finished a second one. Then I got the thread tangled and had to remove all the beads and start over. But now it looks great and gave me an idea for some brooches and hat medallions and hair ornaments. One idea leads to another. People often wonder where to find inspiration. I have the opposite problem which is more ideas than I can use in a lifetime.

Freeform Scarflette Necklace Multi-colored

2009-07-13T23:10:00.000-07:00

I spent the day assembling this necklace. Some of the circles were already made and in my pile of goodies. Even so, it took me nearly every bit of available time I had to finish it and do the photos. I ran out of time before I even got it listed in my Etsy shop. Hopefully I'll get to that tomorrow. I'd like to make more of these but they take so long I don't see how I can ever make a profit. It's not like I can ask $100. Well, I can, but I'm not going to hold my breath waiting for a buyer.

I display my necklaces on a gourd, because some buyers get very upset if they think a person ever wore the item. So I almost never display them on people. Then others will complain that they want to see it on a person, so there is really no way to win.

When people buy a shirt at a department store, I don't think they want to think about how many times someone else might have tried it on before they did.

Knitting and Crocheting Combined

2009-07-06T09:23:00.000-07:00

I'm glad to see more TV shows on with both knitting and crocheting. There is a station called Create TV that shows how to do something like cables with knitting and then shows how to do something similar with crochet. It you are going to be working with your hand and with yarn anyway, it doesn't make much sense not to learn both. Once you know both there are so many more things you can make. And it speeds things up in many cases. For example a crocheted purse handle is much faster to make than a knitted idiot cord handle. And it's easier to crochet around the edge of a veil than to knit around one.

There are many books out on knitting and crocheting edgings. If you are tired of boring t-shirts for example, you can cut off the collar and cuffs and crochet around them instead. You can also crochet edgings around handkerchiefs, dress hems, pocket edges, and the tops of socks. Have fun exploring.

Witty Knitting

2009-06-30T10:12:00.000-07:00

My friend sent me this very cool 'witty knitting' site. http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/9809

This is definitely the year of the knitting and crocheted cupcakes, intestines and bottle hats. What is the zaniest thing you've knitted or crocheted?

I'm working on a faux rubber chicken. Or would that be a faux faux chicken? I'm also crocheting a squid.

Freestyle Poncho

2009-04-20T11:43:00.000-07:00

Twice yesterday I tried to start a crocheted loop to make a poncho out of. Both times I ended up with a mobius strip. So I decided to give it a rest. I'm glad I did because this morning my mind solved the problem. I'll just make a straight piece the right length, then crochet a few rows of double crochet to give it some stability and then join the ends together and start my rounds at that point. I believe that will work. Plus that will give me a little leeway if I want to add a button and clasp fastener down the road.

I got the idea from a poncho I saw in a book yesterday that was not only crocheted, but also beaded and embroidered with a cowrie shell fringe on the bottom. While I was doing research I came across this page of free poncho patterns which wasn't of use to me at the time but might be of use to one of my readers. http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/directory/ponchos.php

Making a vest

2008-12-18T15:33:00.001-08:00

Today I got an idea from a rug I saw on Etsy, only instead of a rug I'm making a vest out of some fire yarn I bought originally to make an afghan. The vest will have a squarish front and back like a vest I loved in the 70's and then straps to hold it all together. I might use black or brown for the borders to hold the piece together. First I need to make about 50 circles of various sizes.

Choker Work in Progress

2008-10-20T09:08:00.000-07:00

I got some more done on the freeform choker yesterday. I switched to a smaller hook and crocheted a flower motif to attach to the main band. I'd like to add some more color to it by dyeing some of the thread, but I will be out of town so much this week I don't see how I'll have time.
I may take the project on the train with me on Thurs.

Freeform choker

2008-10-05T10:33:00.000-07:00

I just started a freeform crocheted choker out of DMC Baroque ecru thread. I haven't done thread crochet in a long time and I feel like I'm all thumbs this morning. But onward I go.

Etsy Items for Sale in my Shop

2008-09-17T16:21:00.001-07:00

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade
Pigglewiggins.etsy.com

2008-09-08T11:55:00.001-07:00

I just signed up for Tagfoot. http://ping.fm/lfV6m Come see all my links and comments and my wishlist.

2008-08-31T22:35:00.001-07:00

Want to join ping.fm too? Go to http://www.ping.fm.Use the code 'legendofping' and you could have the luxury of posting to all your blogs in one fell swoop like I do. Way more efficient than doing it one by one.

2008-08-31T22:33:00.001-07:00

I'm not sure what 'ping my default' means but I guess I'll find out when I hit send.

2008-08-28T13:39:00.001-07:00

The week sure went by quick. I had a lot more planned but didn't have the energy to do it. My hands are still sore from woodcarving, and so I've had to lay off the knitting and crocheting. I'm looking forward to the weekend. My daughter may visit. We'll see.

2008-08-27T10:07:00.001-07:00

Come view my Flickr photo stream. Over 3000 photos I've taken are waiting there for your pleasure. http://ping.fm/3TTAi

2008-08-27T09:53:00.001-07:00

I just signed up for Ping.fm to make social networking more effiecient.

Sporkle Hat

2008-08-08T23:43:00.000-07:00

I'm almost finished with another freeform sporkle hat similar to this one SPORKLE. It has more colors and more bullion knots though. When I get home from my train trip I'll post a photo.

no video today :(

2008-07-01T17:16:00.000-07:00

I tried all day to make a decent freestyle crochet video and just had one problem after another. But at least I got some samples started and I got some of the ends woven in on that multicolored hat. Still lots to go but if I break it up into manageable bits it shouldn't be too painful.

Wild freeform hat

2008-06-29T18:38:00.001-07:00

I'm almost done with a hat that took me quite a while to make. It has many colors of acrylic yarn. Poor acrylic yarn goes so unloved these days. But when you have kids with cotton candy fingers wearing your hats, you too will be happy you can just toss it in the washer & dryer without a thought. Try that with those gourmet yarns, I dare you.

Anyway I still have to weave the spare ends in, but here are some photos of how it looks right now.

Teapot Hat is done!

2008-01-24T15:16:00.000-08:00

Yay, I finished the teapot hat. You can wear the spout to the front or the side or the back.

Teapot Hat

2008-01-24T01:36:00.001-08:00

I'm having so much fun crocheting this new hat that I don't want to put it down. But's it's 1:36 AM and I'm getting cross-eyed so it's time to call it a night.
I had an epiphany tonight. Make videos featuring my art projects and back them with the music my friend and I have put onto CD's.
At this point my hat resembles a teapot. I'm not sure if it will lose it's 'teapottiness' or not. We shall see.

Vest

2008-01-06T12:48:00.000-08:00

I'm still working on this freestyle vest cape thing. I made some progress today so here is a new photo. Rainy days are good for crochet. And a relative just gave me a ton of yarn because her hands can no longer handle the stress of crochet.

A little bit each day.

2007-09-25T11:35:00.000-07:00

I've been doing a bit of freestyle jigsaw crochet while waiting for a movie or sitting in the park. You don't really need to take much with you. Just a few odd balls of yarn and a hook or two and some scissors. Yesterday I was using some fuzzy baby blue and pale pink yarn and some shortish eyelash yarn is shades of purple and pink. All the pieces I'm currently making will go into making the wrap.

Wrapped in love and yarn

2007-09-17T10:27:00.000-07:00

This triangular piece would be perfect for a bikini top. I'll have to remember that for later. (see photo below)

Saturday I started a new wrap in my jigsaw puzzle style. I'm surprised how quickly it is coming along. Yesterday I worked on it at the archery meeting. Then when I got home I found an old vest to pin it too so I could better figure out where to place each design element. I'm having a lot of fun with it.

books=ideas

2007-08-23T17:00:00.000-07:00

While I was browsing Barnes and Noble I noticed that new freeform books have come out. So if you haven't looked for a while, you might want to go see for yourself.

I don't call them Scrumbles.

2006-11-26T13:06:00.001-08:00

I don't call them Scrumbles because that term was coined years after I began doing this.

When you grab some yarn and some needles or a crochet hook and start making fabric using various stitches you can create original and exciting new things.

I'm more used to calling this organic crochet and knitting, but the current trend has renamed it Free Form and called the pieces 'scrumbles'. I call my pieces Jigsaw Puzzles, because each piece is joined to other parts until enough fabric is made to create a garment or a purse or a pillow or something tangible.

This is a lot like abstract painting with fibers instead of paint. I consider myself a fabric artist.
I made my first garment (a floor length robe for street performing) in about 1989. I didn't have internet access until 1995 so I'm afraid I don't have any photos of it. If I ever find it in storage, I'll be sure to post a photo. I'm not even sure I still have it. Like many things in life, we would have documented them better if we thought they'd be important milestones later.