So I just received my email instructions for level II of the Craft Yarn Council’s program. Umm…it looks tough! I just glanced over the assignments and there are a few things in there I’ll have to learn in order to complete the swatches. Like what’s a Flame Stitch? I looked on YouTube and it doesn’t look at like the diagram in the assignment sheet! The instructions are confusing too. That’s ok, I think I figured it out.
Then for the final assignment, I need to follow the pattern for a baby sweater without deviating from the pattern and making sure the measurements match. I think that’s the part that has me the most nervous. I hate following patterns. Their is a second option: making your own design making sure to include all the requirements. Normally I would choose this option but making clothes isn’t my strength in crochet.
I can make clothes but I usually just measure off of my own body or the body of the person I’m making clothes for (which isn’t very often) so I don’t think I want to do that. I can follow a pattern so I will do theirs. I just need to make sure I follow gauge and we all know I hate doing that. LOL
I’ll probably have to buy yarn because the pattern and some of the swatches call for yarns I don’t think I have. I don’t think I have baby yarn in my stash, although I might actually have some. How sad that I have so much yarn I don’t even know what I have! If you know me, you also know I hate wasting money and although I love buying yarn, I hate buying yarn to make something I have no use for. {What a whiner}. I will make the baby sweater and then make a big baby doll to put it on. Or better yet, I will pick the size that fits the life-size doll at work. She will now have a new sweater. 🙂
Overall, I’m excited to start this level. It looks like it will push me to learn some new things and test my skills.
Here goes…
Confession time, I already started! That’s the flame stitch in the middle. That one gave me some trouble. The one on the left is giving me trouble now. I can sort-of cross stitch but the way they want me to do it is new to me. It’s a learning curve for sure. The bottom one is my practice swatch. I kept having to undo the cross stitches. I think I have it figured out now but we’ll see.
yochet 
Your flame stitch (I had never heard of that one either) looks great.
I’m not a fan of gauges either – and honestly I never saw the point when crocheting. ‘Cause your chain is pretty much the width, right? 😏
Congratulations on taking this step toward your certificate. ☺️ I think that’s very cool. I will watch your progress with great interest. 🤓
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I hope I got it right. I stared at the chart for a few days because I didn’t understand it. The only tip given was that you only turned the work on every uneven row. But it finally made sense but you end up with so many tails! Weaving them in was a task!
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I’d hate to recommend buying a book because that’s more money, but Dora Ohrenstein’s Crocheter’s Skill-building Workshop explains how to get gauge right in a way that my mother explained to me when I was a child and that I’ve never seen in a book before. Now, I’m going to say what Ohrenstein says and what my mother said to me to save you some bucks: in crochet, your gauge is determined by how you hold your yarn just as much as it’s controlled by the size of your hook. There is no such thing as a “tight crocheter” and a “loose crocheter.” This is a blessing and a curse. For the garment, swatch a lot. Experiment with yarn tension and hook size a lot if you don’t get the gauge you need. If, on a first swatch, you have the gauge you need, you’re golden. Just do the project. For this assignment I don’t recommend designing your own. Just do the first option, since you’re nervous about gauge. Also, comparatively speaking, crochet is not a craft defined as “individually unique in tension” yet knitting is. If you can’t swatch to gauge, it’s not just a matter of switching hooks. You have to switch tensions. Also, this works to the crocheter’s advantage. I’m crocheting a sweater that needs sport weight yarn and I’m doing it with fingering weight. I just adapted my tension and hook to get the gauge stated in the pattern and I’m getting the same results. I think level 2 is going to door opener for you and you’re going to love it because you’ll learn this information about clothing. Or maybe not, since you weren’t interested in this before. Who knows? Trying new things is always super fun for me!
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Thanks, this will definitely help. I’m enjoying the challenge so far. I like testing myself in crochet and this certainly is a test! Figuring out what they even want is part of the challenge. I have a bias against clothing because of childhood experiences but I won’t get into that but I’m starting to shed those biases now and am open to learn as much as I can about all of it. I so agree with you that this will be a door opener for me in so many ways. I’ve looked at hairpin lace and broomstick lace before and wanted to try it but never did. Now I have no choice. Thanks for coming along for the ride. 🙂
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You will definitely conquer!!!
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Good luck with the level 2. So comforting to know that traditional arts are still being practiced.
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Thank you! 😀
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Reblogged this on Yarnsage.
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We have a winner of the fairy princess!! wildorchid985@gmail.com If you would email her and get her address and Congrats her!!
Thank you so much for your sponsorship. I love that little princess!
kelleysdiy.com
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Will do 🙂
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Ooh flame stitch is pretty! I’ve never heard of it before now so thanks for sharing 🙂 and good luck with this next level!
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Thank you. I’ve had to make the swatches more than once, trying to get them just right. It’s fun though. It’s keeping me on my toes. 🙂
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Funny that I happened upon your blog. I’m at pretty much the same point you are. I’m certifying for level two crochet. I just started working on that flame swatch. In the last CYC newsletter there were some adjustments tot he pattern and I’m using the photo they included as a guide. It looks as though they carried the yarn of all the colors up the sides. But yes this second level certainly tests you and gives you lots of new skills. Good luck with yours!
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What?! I need to find that news letter. I wove in all my ends. Lol Thanks for taking the time to read my post. 🙂
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Ok see if I can find it in my emails. I’m pretty sure I saved it somewhere.
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I never heard of the flame stitch either!! I like it though. I’m with you on following patterns but you gotta do what you gotta do – and I have no doubts at all that you will nail it! Isn’t it kind of fun and exciting to be challenged? I think a sweater for the doll is a fantastic idea!! Can’t wait to see it! 😀
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Every square is taking me three attempts trying to get them just right. I am enjoying the challenge. 🙂
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It is hard and I did learn a few new things that I love.
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I love learning new things! Then I love to explore ways I can use the new things in all kinds of projects!! 😀
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