Berlin's Whimsy

Midsummer is... Cool Pickling

A fine addition to barbeque and spicy foods...

Pickled cucumbers in a new Pyrex find!

I'm a rebel.

 

I admit, whenever I go through a phase like I'm currently in, I feel a bit embarrassed. It's my cotton/utility knitting (and now crochet) phase---the kind that produces dishcloths galore and other little crafty items for the household.

I think it was around this time last year that I knit up those Mason-Dixon Ball-band Dishcloths like crazy, as if some cotton-eating alien creature might drop from the sky and gobble up all the Peaches & Creme before I could whip up another dishcloth.

But there's a side of me that worries about not fulfilling my "artistic" potential----worries about a lack of producing projects out of the newest organic yarn or the latest trendy craft book... For relegating myself to crafts-----even if they are necessary crafts that hands have been producing for centuries.

 

And I ask, what does craft mean?

Recently, I visited a cute little shop in a nearby tourist town. She carries so many fun handmade items, as well as materials to make your own. No, there isn't any Peaches & Cream there---rather, she carries Amy Butler decorator fabric and high-end craft stuff. The owner told me that she was laughing about a comment she overheard earlier in the day: a customer had walked through the door and said, "Oh, it's a craft store." The owner now was musing over that comment, "I'm not a craft store----I'm a fun store!" She went on, "I don't like the term 'craft' and I don't want to be labeled as a craft store."

I wondered about that---how the term craft means so many different things to different people. My ex-husband always turned his nose up at craft. I think crafty meant frumpy to him.

However, the term crafty is becoming a reclaimed term in a more updated way. For the hipster crowd, crafting is cool and crafting is a positive offshoot of DIY and re-purposing. Instead of crafty we're craftsters. It's almost a revolt against the factories and the machines, against uniform and cookie cutter----it's reclaiming our hands' accomplishment. Our spirit isn't too far behind. 

I grew up in the very tail end of a generation that seemed to snub craft. I think that for this generation, craft conjured up visions of housewives fettered to their kitchens and husbands sitting at the table tapping their fingers while impatiently waiting for their meal. Instead of crafting, this generation wanted to reclaim their professional identities and take on the world---to be young forever. That belief wasn't mine because I never lived it-----never was forced to live it. 

I wonder if the interpretation of craft stems from those generational views and experiences----perhaps where we fell in history. Now, craft is hip and it's a new form of bucking the system. Sure we could go down to the corner Wal-mart and buy a generic dishcloth made in China but instead, we would rather make our own. So, given the choice between the old and now this new type of rebellion, I think I'd rather be knitting up my own dishcloths rather than dropping acid and exposing myself to the latest venereal disease. Yeah, that's what my cotton/utility knitting phase is, it's my own rebellion against the system! Do you want to join me in my cause?

Vintage Stitches.

And another.

Vintage Stitches with another little doily design. I rather like this one...

Mini Doilies= many stitches.

Tell me, how do those little old ladies do it----stitch those intricate, web-like doily stitches without becoming cross-eyed? Wow.

I managed to stitch up a few mini-doilies for a couple of my bag designs. They were quite fun to make but I just might need a pair of glasses afterwards. And these, I MUST get some of these---ouch!

Nonetheless, the singular focus to detail and the resulting feeling of accomplishment made it all worth it! I'm pushing up against my deadline for finishing these things...

Some Etsy TLC & Shop Update

I'm putting a little love and attention into my Etsy shop again. I listed a couple cute children's vintage clothing items I found months ago from my Grandmother's stash of old clothes. I absolutely love the vintage smock----oh, how I wish my kids were that little again! I wanted to keep these items but I'm beginning to understand that I cannot collect everything (though I try)...

And, I'm currently creating four more of those large project bags. I'm excited about these bags as I'm using some of my vintage fabric, doilies, buttons, and trim. I think they'll be very fun! My goal is to list them in my shop by Monday, June 9th. You'll see them on the sidebar when they're listed...

A Knitter's observations on Crochet.

 

My last week has been full of crocheting. I finally mastered that little dish sponge pattern and I even made some modifications that just might produce the ultimate in scrubbie dish sponges (I will post the tutorial later on)... Because developing the ultimate dish sponge is truly the answer to all the world's problems, right?! (I write with a smurk & a wink)...

So, based on my very limited exposure to crochet, and with a fairly extensive background in knitting, I have a few observations (my own opinions)....

• Crochet is so much more forgiving to those who make mistakes. (ME). In crochet, if you make a mistake, just rip it all out in wild abandon! There are not all those little loops to replace on the needle. You rip back to where you're happy and find that ONE loop and move on---no cursing, no headaches, just rip and go. I LOVE THAT. In fact, that reason alone might make me a crochet convert.
• Sculpture in stitches. Yes, there is knitted scrumbling, but I find that crochet lends itself to free-form sculpture and creation more easily than knitting. Choose a spot and start stitching----that's all there is to it.
• Flowers. Yes, you can knit flowers but I love crocheted flowers and they seem to be easier to create----more intuitive, I guess.
• Old-fashioned. I'm right smack in the middle of an old-fashioned phase right now-----loving all that is vintage, charming, and cozy. I want to someday recreate the little vintage goodies of my childhood: lace-edged linen napkins & hemstitched pillowcases, doilies, all that good stuff... In addition, crochet just has that old-fashioned look that I love.
• And here are a few other reasons to love crochet: Bella Dia's Cloche and some of these bags, and this hat, too--oh, and TOTORO!

But don't get me wrong, I'm not throwing out my knitting needles anytime soon but I hope to use both knitting and crochet together for future projects. In fact, I love the way they play upon each other----- a knitted piece with a lacey crocheted border is just about perfect in my book...

Also, I found a crochet book that is filled with projects that really appeal to me: Uncommon Crochet. Most of the projects utilize basic materials such as kitchen cotton, jute, and leather cording to create market bags, baskets, and little containers with felted flower tops (I've included a few photos here).

The author utilizes crochet's open stitchwork to allow fun fabric linings to peek out in between the utilitarian look of jute. Not only are the projects wonderful in their combinations of basic materials & fun accessories but there is so much potential for other projects using plastic bag yarn and other repurposed materials.

Alas, many of the projects are still beyond my skill level in crochet but I hope to obtain those skills soon to tackle these fun items!

Fun at the dump.

 

The weekend we went to the coast, we attended an annual tradition at the nearby recycling center (it just might be the coolest recycling center this side of the Mississippi!).They hold an annual bash filled with circus acts, a trash art show, recycling love, and a fashion show. It's all a whole lot of fun.

I'm posting a couple photos from our visit.

I'm off to another interview today. I fairly sure there will be a story behind the adventure, but that's for another day. Wish me luck!

Playing Hooky. With Links.

 

This past weekend, I endeavored to teach myself how to crochet. I've perused the basic crochet books in the past but never felt the desire to tackle the project fully. There are a number of reasons why I want to crochet: create my own doilies to use on sewing projects; make one of those bright colored ripple stitch afghans; tackle amiguri; and play with tawashi patterns. The latter projects use patterns that are typically in Japanese with charted designs to follow so I need to be fairly adept at understanding the flow of crochet and patterns before tackling them.

The above photo is of my first attempt at this fun project: Crocheted Dish Sponge Pattern. (Don't look too closely at mine---go to the site)! It's a great design because the "sponge" is very absorbent. In addition, the same designer created a Swiffer Cover("shrug") that can be thrown into the wash and reused! This is a future project of mine, too (once I become a little better at crochet)! I didn't continue using my Swiffer because of the guilt involved with throwing out all of those disposable inserts (plus, they are expensive, too).

In trying to learn the crochet stitches, I found this crochet site entirely useful!! How many times can one person watch a video of a half double crochet stitch? Apparently, lots! (At least in my case)...

I feel a bit smitten with the Japanese Tawashi Patterns and many of them call for that Japanese Anti-bacterial yarn I mentioned in my Japan Swap post. One of my very helpful readers who has an extensive scientific & medical background pointed out the unknown effects of this yarn. It is treated with a substance called zeolite to capture positive ions and it includes aluminum in its make-up. It was interesting to read her researched information and realize how much I just take the newest invention for granted----that I assume any side-effects or health risks will have been tested...

But are they? Right after our conversation, I watched this show  about the possible ill effects of bisphenol A (BPA) ----which is used in plastics----and the lack of actual testing by non-corporate entities with a stake in the product's sales; this stuff is found in everything, including 93% of our bodies now. It made me want to run out and purchase this, or this for my children and I rather than using plastic water bottles (oy, they are expensive, however).

A lot to think about while learning those crochet stitches.

***What how-to crochet book do you recommend? I'm looking for a book that includes instructions for basic crochet but has room to grow, as well...

Scrubbie Updates.

 

A couple comments prompted this update to yesterday's Knitted Scrubbie Tutorial. 

SIZE: I found that I prefer my scrubbies in a small square: Cast on only 14 sts and knit until you produce a square (aprox. 3-inches x 3-inches). The square shape makes it easier to get into small spaces and they don't take up as much room around the sink... Oh, and they are fast to knit up, too!!

MATERIALS: Both Mandi & Margie commented on repurposing tulle, netting, and scraps of fabric. And yes, I think the netting from produce bags would work wonderfully for this. Just cut it into strips and away you go! I love this repurposing idea----I'm sure our sisters & moms of the past would have done that same thing.

TULLE VARIATIONS: When you visit the fabric & craftstore, you'll usually find tulle in the bridal department. The tulle I used for the pink scrubbie (above) is called "shiny tulle" and it is rather rough feeling and stiff. Right in that same isle, you'll also find bridal netting tulle like that used for wedding decorations. It's not as stiff as the shiny tulle. This material, knit with cotton, makes a great dishcloth (however, not with as much "scrub action" as the stiff stuff) and a perfect buff for the bath & shower! It's not as rough on the skin. 

And, I must clarify that the scrubbie idea did not originate from me! One of my friend's relatives makes them and gives them to family members.  

Aren't they so fun?! Now, on with the weekend! We have chickens to round up!

Doilies.

Found at the thriftstore today----enough doilies to create a "pond" full of doily lily pads.

Doilies... Created by the hands of others, they are one of my favorite thriftstore treasures. Is it the memories? Visions of my Great Aunt's doilies gracing the back of her couch or cradling flower pots throughout her farmhouse... Or is it my appreciation of the patience I lack to create doilies--- all those intricate stitches, so intimidating.

I collected them even before Amanda made them so beautifully famous but she graciously opened the door for the doily's graduation from Grandma's parlor to bags, quilts, and so much more...