Does Anybody Else Here Crochet?

[Meg]

On Christmas Eve I helped my best friend decorate her Christmas Tree. Among her ornament collection are vintage crocheted ornaments her Grandmother made. Some of them are lovely small thread work in patterns I have never seen anywhere, including crosses done in shells, poinsettia type flowers couldn't have been more than 7 rows from base to tip with simple chainwork between the petals, and some really lovely small spiral type designs. really, this work was breathaking, and the other thing I liked about them is they are small. She was evidently using size 20 or 30 thread, which is beyond my ability and working by touch. My friend says her Grandmother didn't use patterns either, just made what was on her mind at the time. That may have been mostly the case, but some of her worsted weight yarn work looks like it came from patterns, although I must admit whoever thought of a design first must have written the pattern! Unfortunately my friend's Grandmother didn't write any patterns though! (You should see the little snow boot I got for Christmas! Its just outstanding!!) All her Grandmother's work is outstanding, for that matter, and a lot of it is custom! My friend has given me several pieces, and they're a real inspiration, way better than the stuff you see in the magazines or the usual catalogs...

It was really a privilege to even be able to examine such heirlooms. I'm going to borrow a cross when the tree comes down, I think I can figure out how she did that, but it made me wonder if anyone knows where I can find good vintage patterns.

[notdecieved]

Meg, I went a huntin' for ya. Check these out.


Free Christmas Crochet Patterns | Snowflake Patterns | Free Vintage Crochet Patterns


Free Crochet Snowflake Patterns


crochet snowflake patterns


That should keep you busy for awhile.

[Meg]

Thanks NotDeceived, these are but this is what I mean by my friends stuff being vintage collectibles. The one in the center of this pic is a pale comparison to what I'm looking for. My fiend's ornaments are much more detailed (you really have to be a crocheter to understand what I mean, its only when you do it yourself that you recognize why some pieces are special.

The genius on the stuff I saw was that she used mostly simple stitches, it was the way she put them together that was so amazing.



I like the two snowflakes on the ends though, minus the antenna looking things. The flower part is pretty.

do you crochet, ND?

[Meg]

I just ran an image search, and I see what my friend meant when she said Grandma didn't use patterns. When we take down the tree (I'll almost certainly help), I'll have to get pictures of some better examples and post them. I'm also going to ask to borrow them and study them to see if I can reproduce some. Her patterns are very small and very simple, thats why they're so pretty. everything I'm seeing on the market now is very extravagant. They're also very large, which is a problem, and very difficult which is a challenge. I'm doing the heart in this picture. The finished size in size 10 thread is 12 inches x 13 1/2 inches. I'm using size 3 thread and a B hook, so mine is a little larger. This is an advanced pattern, and I had to do it about 5 times before i got it figured out (It was the joins in the early rows drove me up the wall!)

Irish Beauty Doilies Crochet Pattern Book AA 878532

[notdecieved]

Yes, I do crochet. It was when I was carrying our first that I started to do baby stuff. I knew most of the stitches, as for years had watched Mother crochet. Then it just grew from there to sweaters, jackets, ponchos, doilies, dish cloths, table cloths and just loved doing baby jackets and booties and hats. A lot of the articles I make I do without patterns. I don't do much of it anymore. Guess its just not as important to me now I have other things to occupy myself with.

[king'sbloomingrose]

I love crocheting! I use the tiniest crochet needles that I can find along with tiny almost fingerling yarn. I think I made some snowflakes one year using a pattern similar to the two in the pic that you said you liked. If you wanted the pattern I could copy it for you. It's probably not exactly the same thing but very similar. My mom had the pattern book for at least 10 years now, maybe even longer than that.

[Meg]

I love crocheting! I use the tiniest crochet needles that I can find along with tiny almost fingerling yarn. I think I made some snowflakes one year using a pattern similar to the two in the pic that you said you liked. If you wanted the pattern I could copy it for you. It's probably not exactly the same thing but very similar. My mom had the pattern book for at least 10 years now, maybe even longer than that.

Aaaahhh the joys of youth and eyesight! Teeny tiny hooks and thread thin enough to sew with... I go looking at steel hooks, and I can't even tell which end is which!

Actually, is wasn't snowflakes I wanted to do, it was smaller doily type pieces. I looked at dozens of vintage patterns this afternoon, and I see what my friend meant when she said her Grandma didn't use patterns, I couldn't find a pattern that even resembled what I saw on Christmas Eve. I'm going to borrow some of her pieces and figure out the pattern. I liked the simplicity of them. Everything I saw in the patterns was large, flashy and complex. this lady's designs are simple, open and lovely. I'll get pics soon, so you can see what I mean.

I got away from afghans and garments because they're too heavy, and good yarn is too expensive. I made myself a poncho a few years back, and it cost me $80 or $90. It was nice making stuff, but more expensive than it was worth!

[Hannah]

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[readytogo]

Are you sure that they were crocheted and not "tatted"? They resemble each other at times.

Tatting - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Longing2cJesus]

Meg, I too was thinking maybe it was tatted like Karen said in her post.

I have been crocheting for over 40 years now. I will look in some of my books and see if I can find anything like what you are describing.

I am a self taught knitter and have been knitting quite a bit the last 5 or six years. I am liking knitting better than crochet because of the drape of a knitted piece. Crochet is much faster for me but the texture is a bit stiff to my way of thinking.

I also do beading on clothes and sketching and cross stitch and embroidery.

I love working with my hands.


Pro 31:13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

[Meg]

Thank you for the Tatting lionk, Karen! I'm going to try that later this year for sure.

These pieces are certainly crochet, and i do believe what my friend said about her Grandmother not using patterns. In those days, her Grandma would have been a young girl in the early 1900's or maybe the late 1800's in the deep South (her Mother is over 70), someone would have taught her basic stitches and things like "this is how you do a flower" or whatever. What I love (I probably said this once) is the simplicity. This work comes from the heart of a family oriented woman who crocheted out of love, and it really shows in her work. I wouldn't be surprised if there are no such patterns ever written, because, really, the pieces are quite simple once you figure out how many chains and how many, for example, double crochets and where. If y'all want, when i figure out how she did the simple ones, I'll post the instructions. I intend to post the pattern for the cross designs anyway, as they're the best cross design I've ever seen.

Thanks everyone. Its fun to share these things...

When we finished putting up the crochet ornaments, and the tree was done, I found myself crying, because I never thought i would see such simple goodness again. Of all the things a woman might do with her leisure time, to make by hand lasting memories of family bonds must be one of the most precious, and to make such humble, but truly lovely pieces, is a lasting statement of what it meant to her to be a Christian (she was)...

[Longing2cJesus]

Meg, take a look at this pattern for a crochet snowflake. It is so delicate and pretty.

Snowcatcher: Snowflake Monday

I was looking at a crochet newsletter I get and I though of you when I saw this snowflake.


This website AllFreeCrochet.com - Free Crochet Patterns, Crochet Projects, Tips, Video, How-To Crochet and More has lots of really nice crochet patterns for free.




Ann

[Meg]

Thanks Anne, the snowflake is really pretty. That would be a pretty holiday accent piece next year. I found a free pattern for crochet socks on the second link I've been wanting to make myself some wool socks, since I get colder these days (yes, I'm getting old...)

My friend is really sick, so we haven't even mentioned the tree. If her son doesn't take it down before he goes back up to college next week, I'm going to borrow her Grandmother's pieces to study. If that works out, I'll see if I can scan them (probably), and I'll post the pics here so y'all can see what i mean.

How are you feeling Anne? Did you get through the holidays OK? I've been praying for you

[Longing2cJesus]

Thanks Anne, the snowflake is really pretty. That would be a pretty holiday accent piece next year. I found a free pattern for crochet socks on the second link I've been wanting to make myself some wool socks, since I get colder these days (yes, I'm getting old...)

My friend is really sick, so we haven't even mentioned the tree. If her son doesn't take it down before he goes back up to college next week, I'm going to borrow her Grandmother's pieces to study. If that works out, I'll see if I can scan them (probably), and I'll post the pics here so y'all can see what i mean.

How are you feeling Anne? Did you get through the holidays OK? I've been praying for you

Meg I am doing just fine, thank you and Praise the LORD!!!!

Got through the holidays in one piece but they were sad because of my sister's passing last May. This was the first time she and I were not together for the holidays. You always knew when my sister was around cause she had a great sense of humor and a loud mouth LOL. I was always the quiet one :-)

I did have to replace my washing machine this past week, the new one was delivered today. Praise the LORD for His provisions.

I have been keeping busy with my knitting and am planning on soon making an afghan for my bedroom.

Thank you so very much for the prayers.





Ann

[Meg]

OK, I got some samples of my friend's Grandmother's crochet scanned in and uploaded at Picassa. I'm going to try to post a link so everybody can see.

Picasa Web Albums - Meg Christian - Antique Crochet

Link seems to work, and Christian isn't my real last name, so don't come looking.

[Longing2cJesus]

OK, I got some samples of my friend's Grandmother's crochet scanned in and uploaded at Picassa. I'm going to try to post a link so everybody can see.

Picasa Web Albums - Meg Christian - Antique Crochet

Link seems to work, and Christian isn't my real last name, so don't come looking.

Meg, thanks for the link to the photos. Those are indeed crocheted and look to me like very easy patterns to follow. You did really good on taking the photos to show the detail.

I thought maybe you might like to visit this website. They have old and antique crochet patterns. Some are free and some are for sale. I love looking at the old antique patterns and I am trying hard not to go hog wild and buy all I like

New Listings - Karens Variety - KarensVariety.com

I have finally started on the afghan for my bedroom. Soon as I get the pattern down and memorized it will go more smoothly. It is always difficult starting off

God Bless you.



Ann

[Meg]

You did really good on taking the photos to show the detail.

Thanks Anne. Actually, the pieces are very small, size 30 or size 20 at the most, thread, so I just placed each item on my scanner and scanned them directly. Later that day, I realized that the scans came out so well that I can study the pictures, and that way, I won't have to risk handling the delicate pieces. Everything's stiffened, which is probably why some look so smushed. I really like some of the patterns, especially the crosses, and when I finish what I'm working on now, I'm going to start working with those pieces. This is what I'm working on right now, its my first full piece in size 10 on a 1/2.75 steel hook, which is the smallest I've attempted to date. I'm hoping to learn the really tiny threads and hooks, which means learning to work by touch instead of by sight.

Crochet Memories, Free Autumn Reflections Doily Pattern

Found that pattern here

Crochet Pattern Central - Free Doily Crochet Pattern Links

[king'sbloomingrose]

Actually Meg, size 10 thread with 2.75 yarn is doing pretty well! That's what I do most of my patterns on and it works pretty well, although I've never tried to do doilies on it, which is on my to do next list.

[ShilohRose]

I have done a very small amount of crocheting, and, Meg, from another thread, I got the impression that you crochet quite well. Could you post some photos?

[Meg]

I have done a very small amount of crocheting, and, Meg, from another thread, I got the impression that you crochet quite well. Could you post some photos?

Thanks. Most of my finished work got given as gifts, and I haven't done much lately, but when I get some stuff made, I will post photos. I need to start trying to replicate the cross design and make some stuffed animals for sale next month. One of my specialties is a turtle pincushion for yarn needles. I need to find buttons for eyes though...