Sunday 15 June 2008

Une Chanson pour Genevieve

Last week, in response to comment I'd made that I was working on a crochet project, Fleegle posted the first ever comment to get blocked by my email filter. She said, "What are you hooking? Let everyone see your dark side!"

Obviously, Yahoo doesn't want me talking about the 'c' word on this blog. Someone call the Crochet Liberation Front!

But I laugh in the face of Yahoo crochet oppression! Ha! Here is one of my recent projects. Yet another capelet (apparently this is a real word) - this one is crochet and was made for gorgeous goddaughter Genevieve.

The pattern is Chanson en Crochet, which you can currently get for free from Interweave Knits website. It is also in Wrap Style, but word on the street is that the Wrap Style version is riddled with errors, so definitely check out the errata if you want to work from it.

The free version is corrected (wahey), and reasonably straightforward. But seriously - crochet NEEDS to adopt charting in a big way. Without a clear picture of what you're making the directions take 2 or 3 readings before you can be sure you're on the right path. A simple chart would help enormously.

That aside, it's a pretty quick project.

This version is made in Rowan Summer Tweed (4 skeins) on a 6mm hook. Summer Tweed is a silk/cotton blend and looks great, although I found crocheting with it took a bit of getting used to as it's a bit 'nobbly' and I'm used to crocheting with smooth yarns.

The finished capelet is 12 inches deep, 26 inches around the neck edge, 55 inches along the lowe edge.

I didn't make any modifications to the pattern although I did add an extra step to the finishing of the cape. I tidied up the flower motifs by threading a length of yarn through the centre petal stitches.

I handed over the capelet yesterday while out shopping with Gen and Caroline (Gen's mum) and it was a definite winner. The biggest issue seemed to be which of them would get to wear it first!

14 comments:

Kai said...

Love it! And thanks for the info on the Errata. :)

Gale Bulkley said...

What a pretty wrap.

fleegle said...

Your HOOKING is gorgeous! Hook! Hooker! Hookest! Take that, Yahoo!

I am hooking today., as well! A hooked snail or turtle--haven't decided :)

Linda said...

That looks great. I find crochet is nicer to do if it is hot, not that I have ever made a garment!

Carolyn said...

That's very pretty, love the colour.
Thanks for mentioning the errata in Wrap Style - good to know if I should ever tackle this pattern!

Anonymous said...

Loved the capelets! I completely agree with your comment about charted crochet. For the life of me I cannot comprehend why someone would write out a crochet pattern when it is so much easier to visualise (and write) a chart. I am working on chanson en crochet at the moment and indeed I nearly gave up several times and had to do some frogging before I got the idea of what the pattern meant.

A Dutch knitter (and crocheter)

Opal said...

I love it! It's gorgeous!

Anonymous said...

hhhmmm....it makes me want to crochet. what a great gift.

florencemary said...

It's gorgeous, Soo, and a lovely colour! That took quite some saying, coming from a crochetophobe (and if 'capelet' is a word, then so is that!).

LittleBerry said...

Looks great I'm sure your god-daughter will love it :o) it'sa pretty colour too...

I've not crocheted anything other than bags and simple things yet am gearing up for a garment...

picperfic said...

beautiful! I love the way this looks in your photos, thanks for the tip off about the pattern in Wrap Style, I will print off the online version and keep it in the book!

Anonymous said...

Say yes to crochet! Great story about Fleegle's comment... you lady of the night, you. :-)

But now I have to hate you even more. Not only are you a knitting genius, but you can crochet as well!!!! Sigh.

Anonymous said...

I agree with you regarding crochet charts. I'm working on a doily from a Japanese crochet book, and I'm totally in love with the chart.

CiCi and CAJtalk said...

downloading now... this is so pretty!:D