Happy New Year, dear readers.
Sadly the beginning of 2021 has been a bit of a damp squib… we are lockdown again, with no end in sight. Trying to look on the bright side, this means I should have plenty of opportunity to do lots of creative things, including sewing some of the new fabrics I have bought recently. And, of course, I have lots of yarn to keep me occupied. At the beginning of the year I completed a ScrapHappy project, so you’ll have to wait a few days to see that and then I wondered what to do next. There’s a WIP that I’d like to get finished, but it didn’t inspire me, so I turned to my latest Little Box of Crochet and a new technique therein, namely Tunisian crochet.
Tunisian crochet is something I’ve wondered about for a while. It looked to me like a cross between knitting and crochet and I wasn’t sure that it was worth bothering with. However, when you are presented with all the equipment (well, actually just a strange crochet hook that has a cable on the end) and instructions, it’s time to dive in. In fact, it turns out that it’s just crochet in rows with stitches kept on the hook on alternate rows. You work back and forth always with the right side facing.
I’ve surprised myself by rather enjoying making this cowl and I will certainly be exploring Tunisian crochet further and following Natalie, the designer, who blogs at Detroit Knots and has some interesting patterns for sale.
So, have you tried anything new so far this new year?
The Snail of Happiness 
polesparadise
/ January 10, 2021Ooh! That looks nice….
Well I accepted a crochet challenge from a lovely friend, (I learn to crocket, she learns to sew). I spent more hours than I really wanted to going through several youtube videos (Thank you to the lady who referred me to one such video, – I still failed!) trying to teach me to crochet. I managed the first row, but when trying to add the next row (double crochet?), that’s when things (consistently, and every time) went wrong. Just looks like a pile of mating worms!! So I conceded defeat, and asked myself why I wanted to learn to crochet in the first place.
Aside from it being a useful skill to know, I had a surplus of lovely Inkpot wool that I wanted to use. I had already bought a couple of balls of the lovely dark grey to complement the delightful pale grey I already had. I’d thought of making a poncho for a while, so decided that as I can knit – basic stitches only I’ll have you know…. I’d be better to just knit the poncho instead of tying myself in knots (literally) trying to crochet. I’ve no idea how to add a photo on here, but I have done 5 of the 9 squares needed, including the middle one.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 10, 2021Brilliant. When I see you, I will teach you to crochet – it’s such a good way to make hats and other things ‘in the round’ and I’m sure you would enjoy it if you could get the hang of it. Mind you, it took me over 30 years to learn… and youtube videos really didn’t help at all!
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polesparadise
/ January 13, 2021You are a star. The poncho is coming on, 2 squares to go. Just waiting for more wool. 🙂
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 14, 2021Not being able to pop out for extra supplies is really frustrating at the moment, isn’t it? I needed some bobbins for my sewing machine the other day, but had to wait for delivery, which rather interrupted my creativity… and my supply of new underwear!!
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polesparadise
/ January 14, 2021Ah, It’s Inkpot wool… I gather Hannah has been rather busy. 🙂
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Over Soil
/ January 10, 2021Reminds me of fruit salads.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 10, 2021Plenty of fibre in there too!
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Laurie Graves
/ January 10, 2021Very pretty! And all my creative projects revolve around writing, with a podcast being in the works. 😉
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 10, 2021Oh… when will the podcast come out? I’d love to hear you as well as read you.
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Laurie Graves
/ January 10, 2021We’ll begin working on it next week. I will keep you posted.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 10, 2021Great!
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Rainbow Junkie
/ January 10, 2021I learnt Tunisian crochet in an afternoon workshop but just one yarn per row. Haven’t tried to make anything though. Yours looks really pretty and much more interesting.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 10, 2021It’s deceptive – there actually is only one per row, but you work down into the row below on alternate stitches, so it looks as if there are two colours on the same row. Once it’s finished, I’m going to investigate what else is possible.
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katechiconi
/ January 10, 2021Aaargh! Head exploding! Knitting and crochet alone are scary enough, but *combining* them? Lost in admiration. And I love the colours you’re using, like fruit salad! Also looking forward to seeing what you have for us on ScrapHappy Day. Nothing new from me; just more dressmaking, lots of mending, etc. Hopefully I’ll also have something nice – and new – to show on the 15th.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 11, 2021I have piles of dressmaking to get on with, but have been stymied by a lack of bobbins. Normally I would just pop out and buy a few more if I needed a new colour, but I have run out and no shops are open, so I’m awaiting an ebay order.
As for the Tunisian crochet, it’s a bit confusing to begin with but once I’d got my head around the principle of it, it was quite relaxing (well, for me). I love the colours too, although I don’t think I would have put them together… these kits are certainly providing me with inspiration and pushing my boundaries a little, which I really do need at the moment.
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cedar51
/ January 11, 2021Never tried that type of crochet – and now I’ve got too many hand problems to successfully do anything with one such tool. I can manage knitting but basically best with a circular needle. I’m “making something” now, not sure when it will get finished as my “concentration to do anything” is having a severe breakdown…. (off to see GP Wednesday – she must know the secret to – get better).
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 11, 2021I have experienced periods when my concentration disappears and I find it very depressing. Hopefully your GP will be able to help.
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crawcraftsbeasties
/ January 11, 2021Happy new year, Jan! And wow, your Tunisian project looks great! If you’re wanting to continue your forays into this technique (and with all these lockdowns, sure what else would you be doing?) might I point you in the direction of my buddy Aoibhe Ni? We used to teach together and Tunisian crochet is her specialty. Her website is https://yarntowers.com/and you’ll find her on all the usual social networks too. Hopefully you’ll see something to inspire your next project!
Meanwhile, I’m trying to level up with computer drawing programs. I think I’m getting the hang of it at last but it’s been slow going!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 11, 2021Thank you… I’ll head over there right now. By the way, the Beasties send their love!
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crawcraftsbeasties
/ January 12, 2021Hey there, Jan & Jon Beastie! I hope they’re helping you in your new crafting endeavours 😁
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 12, 2021They have decided a supervisory role is preferable, but I’m hoping for help planting seeds very soon.
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crawcraftsbeasties
/ January 12, 2021Yes, many paws make light work 😊
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tinaor
/ January 11, 2021Very nice. I love your description – I think the hook/cable thing looks odd to pick up and use! Not tempted to give it a go yet, but shall admire your progress from afar.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 11, 2021It turned out to be much more fun than I had expected and there are some lovely patterns out there.
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DawnGillDesigns
/ January 12, 2021that’s an example of how colours can work fabulously together. I never think of peach or anything with an orange hue, but that is so perfectly cheering. Thank you. And @polesparadise – I learned to crochet this year by using a combo of simple patterns that had a chart as well as a written pattern, and BellaCoco youtube tutorials. The pattern was the Nature’s Walk blanket, many of which are available for free. I’m addicted now.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 12, 2021I’m a bit conservative when it comes to colours, but I’ve decided this year to have a go with ones that I normally wouldn’t choose. I have, therefore, just started work on a sludgy green jumper… the colour is called “Swamp Thing”!
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tialys
/ January 12, 2021I’ve been tempted to try Tunisian crochet in the past but probably won’t try anything new this year at least because, by the time I get sorted with the house and back to spending any significant time doing anything creative, all my old pursuits will seem new again.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 12, 2021To be honest, it’s not all that much different from normal crochet… you just keep some stitches on the hook on alternate rows, so I think if you fancy trying it, it wouldn’t be too taxing,
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Going Batty in Wales
/ January 12, 2021I have heard of tunisian crochet but never tried it – it looks interesting and I like the colours. Those boxes seem to have been a good choice when we are restricted in so many ways.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 12, 2021I’m not sure how long I’ll keep having them, but they are certainly inspiring me at the moment.
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paintdigi
/ January 13, 2021Your site web is beautiful, congratulations 👍🌻🍂
paintdigi.com
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Nice Piece of Work
/ January 13, 2021It’s a great cowl. I’ve never tried my hand at Tunisian crochet, always good to try something new 🙂
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 13, 2021Give it a go – it’s nice to do and some of the stitches are really lovely.
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Nice Piece of Work
/ January 15, 2021I’ll put it on the back burner until we’re into autumn at least. Too hot here now to even think of working with wool 🙂
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 15, 2021Ah yes… I remember heat! It’s dull, wet and miserable here.
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deborah @ the magic jug
/ January 14, 2021I love the look of this. I once saw someone doing Tunisian crochet at a conference, and have wondered how to get started. Are there any online tutorials you’d particularly recommend? I found that Attic24 was brilliant at getting me re-acquainted with crochet, which I hadn’t done for the intervening almost 50 years.
Happy new year to you, a little late I know
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The Snail of Happiness
/ January 14, 2021Since this came as a kit, all the instructions were included, so I’m not sure of any online resources. Actually, if you can already crochet, I think you’d pick it up quite quickly from some simple written instructions.
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