Newest Irish Crochet Handmade Decor Accent I Made

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber

 - Get My Handmade in my Bonanza Booth or my Etsy Shop -- or Privately 

"Giant" Irish Crochet Rose Table Topper

17 Inches Point-to-Point Across -

If you like "Classic Irish Crochet" Rose Decor Accents - here is one!

The "Giant" Irish Crochet Rose - the Center Focus Point of this piece - is 5 1/2 Inches in Diameter - with 6 Layers of Petals - on the Outer Layer of the Rose are 16 Petals.

The Lustrous DMC Pearl Cotton the Crocheted Rose - and the Crocheted Leaves around it  - really makes this piece Beautiful!

Below is a Closeup of the "Giant" Crocheted Rose - most Crocheted Roses are 1 to 2 Inches in Diameter, so this one being 5 to 2 1/2 times bigger really makes it "Giant" - and you can see the details here:

Closeup of "Giant" Irish Crocheted Rose in Garnet Reds

See more Handmade Irish Crochet Flower Decor Accents in my Bonanza Booth!

Getting Creative With My Crocheting - Today -- A Story!!

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - My Handmade Designs on ARTFIRE and ETSY

I'll be honest -- I don't remember the exact date, or even the exact instance, of when I first picked up a Crochet Hook and some Yarn -- and proceeded to make something -- it was just some time in my teens, I believe the late 1960's.

I had been making "things" with my hands since very early childhood - including those potholders made with loops of yarn on a small loom.  It was always fun for me -- and I have always, always enjoyed working with different Colors!!

Oh - through my teens and college years, I made a variety of things -- I mostly remember scarves and sweaters -- then later a Granny Square bag I gave to a friend -- then a Sweater even and a Poncho -- it was kind of a gradual thing that I just did when I felt like it!!   But I always got patterns and followed them exactly, which I can do!!  I don't remember when I actually "learned" -- never took any classes, just did patterns -- and I am positive that at some point in my teens I even made a small doily in thread and gave it away -- all just for fun and some craftiness!!

In late 2001 though I got serious -- got interested in larger, more complicated projects - I started an afghan and planned out a top.  This continued on into 2002, where I got into more bags, table mats, lapghan, baby clothes -- and even toys, including a stuffed Giraffe (my first stuffed animal), which I donated for a Holiday party!  Then some Hats and Scarves and Pillows to sell even!!

Still though I was following patterns exactly.

---->>>> Then in early-to-mid 2003, something happened that was to change my Crocheting and making things with Fibers forever.

Someone asked me if I had ever done Doilies in Thread Crochet -- and would I be willing to make a bunch to sell.

It was something totally new for me -- I was going to have to learn how to do more than Basic Crochet and follow complicated patterns for complicated designs, but never having a problem with any Crocheting, I just thought "why not"!

So I acquired some Steel Crochet Hooks for Crocheting with Thread -- some size 10 Crochet Thread -- and found some patterns online.  And I just picked up a pattern and started doing it -- the emphasis here, folks, is on the DOING!!  Still just following patterns, I found this wonderful world of complicated designs unfolding as you Crocheted - some Graphic, some Floral -- and then I discovered Filet Crochet and the ability to make Images and Pictures by Crocheting with Threads (I have blogged about this some in the past)!!

This has been going on for years -- about 8 now to be exact -- and in the last Year to Year-and-a Half, I have reached a new level in my Crocheting!!

--->>> Now it is no longer just following patterns -- it is, OK, this is this pattern, but I want it to look "this way" not "that way" and how do I go about doing it???   And it has become more than just adding Colors to a  One-Color pattern.

It has become a matter sometimes of taking one type or technique of Crochet and adding something else to it -- or, OK this design does this, but I need it to do this, so how do I go about getting what I want????

---->>>>  TODAY, in fact, I had another one of these moments -- I am getting towards the end of finishing a rather large round centerpiece Doily of 41 rounds per the original pattern.  On large patterns, like this, I still use patterns for the basic design, but I can rarely resist making some kind of "modification" or "adjustment" to it.

I had already planned a change before even starting, because the original pattern was all white and I wanted Color in it -- with some Contrast - so that required some minor changes along the way, though I was staying pretty much true to the basic design of the pattern.  But more than that -- I had always thought the Edging for it was rather boring, so I have come up with something new!!

  I had this pattern in mind from an earlier Doily I had make (pictured above) -- a much smaller project, granted, but this was the kind of Edging I wanted -- something more complicated, more interesting!!

So out came that pattern -- and then the computing and counting -- and I had it and knew I could do it -- I could add an Edging somewhat similar to this (couldn't be the same, as the project is much, much larger and quite different - tho still round)!!

Thank You, Thank You to one of the Great Ladies of Crochet Design, Elizabeth Hiddleson -- which was where I saw this type of Edging originally in one of her books!!  You have to see her books to understand -- she has all kinds of patterns and edgings -- and she encourages Creativity in her books -- I wonder if she would laugh at me -- taking an Edging pattern from one Doily and "modifying" it so I can use it on another!!

But it is working!!  The new, rather large project - of course always somewhat different from the original pattern -- should be done within a few days and I will have to show it here on my Blog!!

Moral:   Getting Creative has made my Crocheting even more fun than ever to do!


And some of what I make, people even love to buy!!

Get Creative!!  Your Way!!

(And, Oh, by the way, the photo at the top - the Tree - well that is a Crocheted Tapestry and has become my "Brand" -- created, charted and done by me in all kinds of Colors  -- and Thanks there to DMC for having the variety of colors in Pearl Cotton and Cebelia!!)

Selling Some DMC Pearl Cotton Size 8 Again - on ARTFIRE

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs Crochet Supplies on ARTFIRE

Above is a Slideshow of photos of some of the DMC threads that I use in my crochet -- and sometimes sell Balls or Skeins of.

I can buy DMC Pearl Cotton in some quantity - so I am offering a few colors of Size 8 that I have enough balls of to spare some - here in this ARTFIRE shop!!

I use a lot of DMC threads for a variety of reasons - of course, Quality, but also the choices of Colors -- and their Pearl Cotton is just one of the most beautiful threads I have ever worked with!!

Also, the fact that their threads are Colorfast is a huge selling point with me, as I often crochet and knit projects with multiple colors in them -- so the fact that the threads are Colorfast is very important to me, as they don't bleed!!!

I just want to emphasize how beautiful DMC Pearl Cotton is - you can use it, of course for everything, but it makes beautiful 3-dimensional and textured crocheted and knitted accents.

I use it a lot for 3-dimensional Flowers and Leaves - here are some photos of some examples (some are for sale and some already sold):




















If you crochet or knit and would like some samples (a few inches of a thread in certain colors) - contact me through ARTFIRE!!

Some people also use Pearl Cotton for Needlepoint and Embroidery.

Check the DMC USA website for more information on these threads -- and the colors available!!

PURPLES - and LAVENDERS - for Spring!!

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Internet Shop of Handmade Items In Fibers


Have read and heard in various places around - mostly on the Internet, but also on TV - this Spring is the season for various shades of PURPLE - and it being a popular time for pastels - LAVENDERS and VIOLETS!!

Since I started doing Thread Crochet, various shades of PURPLE have been one of the popular colors -- and I have made and sold a number of pieces in them!

I love to work in Shaded Lavenders and Shaded Purples - in fact I have a work-in-progress with Pansies in those colors!! I have a number of crochet threads in those colors - Daisy size 30, J & P Coats size 30 (both "vintage" threads in new condition) -- and, of course, the DMC Pearl Cotton size 8 threads and DMC Tatting Cotton Threads!!

Below a few of the finished items in these colors are pictured - if they sold on Etsy or are listed on Etsy, the photo will link!!

Thread Crochet - Preview of One Motif of Work-In-Progress

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Internet Shop of Handmade Items In Fibers





Here is one Motif of a soon-to-be-finished project.

I have done this one in a special way because I wanted it to be, well, special!

In the center of the Motif is a 3-dimensional 3-layer flower made with a DMC Pearl Cotton variegated thread in dark oranges (almost organge-red) and lighter oranges and yellow - with some orange-gold blending filament on the edges of each petal for sparkle. Those small glistening gold spots in the photo are the orange-gold blending filament showing.

This 3-dimensional flower sits in a lace pattern of a tan brown thread - and on the outer rounds of this motif, you will see more of the glistening gold spots - more of the orange-gold blending filament.

6 of these motifs attached around a center flat motif will make up this round centerpiece - with the motifs, the finished piece will have more of a scalloped round shape.

The flat center will make it good for a centerpiece on a table where you can put a bowl or vase or other pottery or even a small statue or large figurine.

I hope to have this finished and up for sale in my Etsy shop within a few days.

The DMC Pearl Cotton, with its wonderful colors and "pearly effect" -- and the orange-gold Krenik blending filament are what makes this Special!

Crochet Threads I Use and May Have Available For Sale

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Internet Shop of Handmade Items In Fibers

Here is a Slideshow of a few of the Crochet Threads that I use in my crochet (and sometimes knitting) projects from my Picasa Web Album. The captions are the name, size and color description of each thread. (You can always check this Picasa Album online to see if I have added any pictures of any new colors.)

Though I use a variety of crochet threads - what I can find in specific colors - for much of my crochet work I use DMC Crochet Cottons -- and these 2 are the ones I use the most:

DMC Pearl Cotton Balls - sizes 5, 8 and 12 (DMC Article 116)
DMC Cebelia Cotton Crochet Thread - sizes 10, 20 and 30 (DMC Article 167G/167GA)

The above links are to the online DMC Color Cards, where you can also find links to Color Descriptions and other Quick References.

I have my own stock of the colors that I usually use - but I have access to all the colors through a DMC Distributor.

I sell only through my Etsy shop -- and I am looking into putting in an order soon. I can do custom, reserved orders of combinations of colors and threads through my Etsy shop.

DMC Pearl Cotton has the most beautiful "lustrous", "pearly" sheen of any thread I have used -- and I often use it as an accent or main thread in my Thread Crochet projects! Size 8, which I use the most and comes in hundreds of colors including 30+ variegated colors, works up extrememly well with size 20 crochet threads -- but can be used for Flowers, Embellishments and Buttons on almost anything!!

If anyone is interested in getting some in any of their colors, you can contact me through my Etsy shop (Etsy Conversations) -- or leave a comment here with an email address.


Here are a few examples of my Thread Crochet using these DMC Threads -- and all of them have DMC Pearl Cotton in them!!

GIFT GUIDES on Etsy Thread Artists

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Internet Shop of Handmade Items In Fibers


Etsy Thread Artists, my Etsy Team for Thread Crochet, has Gift Guides on its blog - listed on the right of the blog, a little bit down.

It was decided by our members to have Gift Guides on our Team Blog, so that we can showcase our work and give our viewers an idea of what we make that might be good for Gifts!!

I have items in all of them. I think they are a great idea!!

Below is a picture of one of my items from each of the 5 Gift Guides we have so far - with the name of the Gift Guide (which links to it on our Team blog) -- and each picture links to my respective item on Etsy!

Fall or Autumn or Harvest Gift Guide:

Americana Gift Guide:

Bride & Wedding Gift Guide:

Flowers and Botanicals Gift Guide:

For Mom Gift Guide:

Weekend Deal in RSS Designs In Fiber for HEARTS IN FIBER through sometime Monday 2/16/2009

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Internet Shop of Handmade Items
RSS Designs Wearable - Internet Shop of Wearable Items





Crocheting in Thread is an enjoyable artistic endeavor for me.


One of the things I like to crochet in different techniques is Hearts!!


I have had a few of them in my Internet Shop - RSS Designs In Fiber - these are the ones I still have in this shop at the time of writing this article. (See WEEKEND DEAL Below!!)



Lovebird In A Heart: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19037323








Circle of Hearts and Roses: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19963912









Irish Crochet Roses In A Heart: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20389704









Heart Inside A Heart Inside A Heart....: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20295466









They are each made in the Art of Thread Crochet with Fine Thread.


They are all made with the high quality cotton DMC Thread - Cebelia.


WEEKEND DEAL: This weekend through whenever Monday, Feb. 16, 2009, I go into my shop and take the deal down, a buyer can get the following percentages off for the above "Heart" items:


Purchase one Heart item - 15% Off Listed Price
Purchase two or more Heart Items - 33% Off Listed Price.


For Payment, I take either PayPal or a Money Order/Cashier's Check; if you pay with PayPal, I will refund the percentage off when I process the shipping of the package; if you are going to pay with a Money Order/Cashier's Check, I will email you the adjusted Invoice Total with the percentage taken off when I get the Etsy Order.


I am in three ETSY teams:


1. Etsy Thread Artists - these items are Thread Art
Blog: http://etsythreadartists.blogspot.com/
ETSY Search Tag: threadartists


2. Design Style Guide - these items are Home Decor
Blog: http://designstyleguide.blogspot.com/
Website: http://www.designstyleguide.net/
ETSY Search Tag: "interiordesignteam" or "designstyleguide" (I use the first one.)


3. Eco Etsy Street Team - these items are made with 100% & are re-usable decorations
Blog: http://ecoetsy.blogspot.com/
Website: http://www.ecoetsy.com/
ETSY Search Tag: teamecoetsy


I hope you enjoy our Handmade creations on ETSY!




Ruth

MY CROCHET ON TOP TEN LIST ON ETSY!!

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Internet Shop of Handmade Items
RSS Designs Wearable - Internet Shop of Wearable Items
RSS Crochet Thread Plus - Internet Shop of Crochet Thread

I was just looking through The Storque on http://www.etsy.com/ for some more data - and I found the Top 10 Lists - and, low and behold, I was looking at the "Top 10 for Decor - Giving Thanks For Primitive" and there was one of my crochet pieces!!

http://www.etsy.com/storque/spotlight/my-top-10-decor-giving-thanks-for-primitives-2843/

You can find it here in my etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=13152136

Actually, this crochet piece is one of the more detailed pieces I have done. It is made in a very fine thread - size 12 DMC Pearl Cotton - which translates, for crocheters, to about a size 45 crochet thread, which is pretty thin, so you have very fine detail in this piece.

Pearl Cotton is such a beautiful thread -- no photograph really reflects its sheen -- this piece, if you look closely, has a lot of detailed graphics, with the main focus being a ring of red flowers.

I hope someone eventually gets it and enjoys it!!

Ruth

CROCHET ART WITH BEADS

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Internet Shop of Handmade Items
RSS Designs Wearable - Internet Shop of Wearable Items
RSS Crochet Thread Plus - Internet Shop of Crochet Thread

I like to do complicated, detailed crochet designs.

This is one of those - a doily that is 16 inches in diameter - from point to point.

The pattern came off the Internet - www.angelfire.com/folk/celtwich/HeatherHill.html. According to that listing, it is from a book "Priscilla Doilies Book No. 111" -- a design by the well-known designer, Priscilla, who I really admire.

As usual, I did it my way - in Lavender and Dark Purple with Lavender beads on the edge.

Here are some closeups, first of the center and, second, of the outer section.

On the picture just above, if you look close, you can see the Lavender glass seed beads on the edge.

This is done in a fine thread that is considered heirloom weight -- Lavender DMC Cebelia size 30 cotton crochet thread.

The thread in Dark Purple is a shaded color -- DMC Pearl Cotton size 8.

These threads are high quality cotton threads that are wonderful to work with and make beautiful items!!

This is listed in my shop: http://www.rssdesignsinfiber.etsy.com/ --

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17011419.

Ruth

FALL OAK LEAVES - A CROCHETED SET

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Internet Shop of Handmade Items
RSS Designs Wearable - Internet Shop of Wearable Items
RSS Crochet Thread Plus - Internet Shop of Crochet Thread



Doing crafts is something I enjoy doing a lot.

I've been doing them since I was a little girl.

Making the set of Oak Leaves in fall colors was a lot of fun - especially when they were done and I could see how beautiful they were in the DMC Pearl Cotton I made them in!!

Each leaf, though based on the same charted design, came out a little different.

These particular colors of thread can only be found in DMC Pearl Cotton:

color 51 - yellows, golds and reds
color 922 - light copper
color 90 - yellows, golds and oranges
color 111 - browns and golds.

ALL LOVELY FALL COLORS!!

The colors are part of what makes it so fun!!.

These FALL OAK LEAVES are in my etsy shop: http://www.RSSDesignsInFiber.etsy.com.

You can also find some of the threads in my crochet shop: http://www.RSSCrochetThreadPlus.etsy.com.


Ruth

ANOTHER WAY TO DO IMAGES IN CROCHET -- COLORWORK OR TAPESTRY CROCHET

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Internet Shop of Handmade Items
RSS Designs Wearables - Internet Shop of Wearable Items
RSS Crochet Thread Plus - Internet Shop of Crochet Thread


As I mentioned in an earlier post, there are actually a number of ways to do images in crochet.

The earlier post was about Filet Crochet. In it, I mentioned colorwork crochet - also known as tapestry crochet.


This is about colorwork crochet - or tapestry crochet - my style!!


I like to do images in crochet - why - I don't know!! I enjoy it!! Ever since I discovered doing designs and images with fibers, I have just loved doing it!!


I first discovered colorwork crochet in a Magic Crochet Magazine. I thought it was beautiful - but it is solid single crochet with color changes and I could tell it would be quite a bit of detailed work.

I did some - it sold rather quickly during the fall holiday season at the time.


I decided I wanted to do something of my own.


Trees being one of my favorite subjects - both as a crafter/artist and as an environmentalist, I thought a tree would be a good subject.


So here is what I made:




(This is in my ETSY Shop http://www.rssdesignsinfiber.etsy.com/)



I love the branches of a tree, so I wanted them to show with the leaves around them.


So I charted it out - a tree on a hilly landscape - and then I decided to put a golden bird up in the left-hand corner. I planned it with sky blue thread for the sky.


Sitting out in a field in my small town in the Antelope Valley of Southern California one day, I looked up -- way up there in the blue, blue sky was a golden bird circling and circling - the bird was so high up, I couldn't see if it was an eagle or a hawk, but I loved it.


So, the little golden bird in this crochet piece represents these wild birds still up there in our skies!!


Done in DMC Pearl Cotton and DMC Cebelia Crochet Thread in their vibrant colors, I "painted" a picture with crochet thread!!


What fun!!


Ruth

ANNOUNCING - MY OWN INTERNET SHOP OF MY FAVORITE CROCHET THREADS!!

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - My Internet Shop for my finished craft projects for sale
RSS Crochet Thread Plus - My Internet Shop for the crochet threads I want to sell
(See the sidebar to the right, below for mini pictures of some of what I have available in each shop!!)


Most people who do crafts have their favorite materials.

So - I am no exception!!

I started doing thread crochet regularly in 2003 - it took about a year for me to find the crochet threads that I now prefer.

Actually, I found out about the brand because I got a ball of their crochet thread in a lot I bought of second-hand thread in new condition.

I discovered that it was of unusually good quality - that it held a pattern well and I felt it was certainly superior to the crochet thread I had been buying locally.

The brand is DMC and they make a variety of threads - and I feel that they are truly beautiful - and they make my crocheted projects the quality that I want.

For size 10 crochet thread, which is apparently the most used size of crochet thread these days, I use and recommend:

1. DMC Baroque (comes in 8 colors)*
2. DMC Traditions (comes in 18 colors)*
3. DMC Cebelia (comes in 26 colors)*
4. DMC Cordonnet Special (comes in White and Ecru)*

For size 20 crochet thread, which is thinner (or finer) and is considered heirloom weight:

1. DMC Cebelia (comes in 26 colors)*
2. DMC Cordonnet Special (comes in White and Ecru)*

For size 30 crochet thread, which is thinner (or finer) and is considered heirloom weight:

1. DMC Cebelia (comes in 26 colors)*
2. DMC Cordonnet Special (comes in White and Ecru)*

For sizes 40, 50, 60, 70, 100 crochet or tatting thread, which is the thinner heirloom weights:

1. DMC Cordonnet Special (comes in White and Ecru)*

For size 80 crochet or tatting thread, which is fine heirloom weight:

1. DMC Tatting Cotton (comes in 30 colors - 21 solid, 9 variegated)*
2. DMC Cordonnet Special (comes in White and Ecru)*

I also use and recommend - for excellent quality and a large assortment of colors - DMC Pearl Cotton - in all the sizes it comes in (due to is special twist - it has a range of sizes different from regular crochet thread-size 3 is the largest and size 12 is the thinnest):

1. size 3 (in skeins)*
2. size 5 (in skeins - and a few colors in balls)*
3. size 8 (in balls - 230+ colors)*
4. size 12 (in balls - 40 colors)*

Though all of these threads are of excellent quality, the three that are truly superior in quality are DMC Cordonnet Special, DMC Tatting Cotton and DMC Pearl Cotton. DMC Cordonnet Special and DMC Tatting Cotton are of superior six-cord quality. DMC Pearl Cotton is of extremely high quality - its special twist gives it the "pearly" effect it is known for - with a beautiful sheen.

You should see and use these threads to see the quality for yourself!!

The following quotes come from a book that I have, which is written by DMC about Cordonnet Special, "DMC CENTENNIAL EDITION CORODNNET SPECIAL "CENTENAIRE du Cordonnet Special":

"Cordonnet Special, as it is now known, was designed in 1884 and soon became the
pinnacle of DMC's tradition of quality. .... After 1901 the quality of this
thread was still further improved, thanks to the process of mercerization which
gave the thread a permanent gloss and added strength. .... The quality of
Cordonnet Special remains unparalleled today. Its superiority has been
maintained by the use of exclusive production methods, unchanged since 1901. It
is still made from one of the finest fibers in the world - long staple Egyptian
cotton." copyright 1984 EDITIONS TH. de DILLMONT-MULHOUSE (FRANCE), DMC LIBRARY - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - PRINTED IN FRANCE by PPR.

I have personally crocheted with all of these threads in different sizes (not all sizes for all threads, but all of these threads) and I personally prefer them to other crochet threads I have found.

You can check out the website for DMC USA yourself - they list all of their crochet cottons and they have color lists, so you can see which colors they have available.

At this time, I do not have any of the DMC Cordonnet Special or DMC Tatting Cotton six-cord threads in my Internet Shop, but I could at any time and people can email me about what colors or sizes of thread they are looking for.

I have a few of the colors of some threads in my shop, http://www.rsscrochetthreadplus.etsy.com/, - which colors and the amounts can change at any time - anyone should feel free to email me - either here or through my shop on etsy.com.

I REALLY, REALLY RECOMMEND THESE THREADS - FOR CROCHETING OR KNITTING DOILIES, OTHER HOUSEWARE ITEMS, LIGHTWEIGHT COTTON CLOTHING (INCLUDING BABY CLOTHING) - AND THEY ARE VERY GOOD FOR BEADING!!!

DMC PEARL COTTON IS ALSO RECOMMENDED FOR EMBROIDERY REQUIRING A "RICH EFFECT AND RAISED PATTERN" (DMC PEARL COTTON COLOR CARD) AND IS ALSO USED FOR NEEDLEPOINT.

CHECK OUT MY INTERNET SHOP - AND/OR GO LOOK AT THE DMC USA WEBSITE AND SEE THE RICH ASSORTMENT OF THREADS THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR YOUR CRAFTS!!

HAPPY CRAFTING!!

RUTH

(*This is the information that I have about these threads at the time of publication - the DMC USA website will have the current information at any time.)

Crocheting With Color Change

LEAF AND FLOWER MAT - DESIGN BY ELIZABETH HIDDLESON



Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber



When I do crafts, I think about 3 things actually - the composition, the graphics - and the color.



If a design I see is especially graphic - or is a particularly classic crochet design - I sometimes choose to do it in all white or all beige - either ecru or cream. All beige is usually classified as either vintage, primitive or, if you are thinking season, for the fall. All white is usually considered classic or winter.



But I usually visualize my projects -- and more times than not, I visualize projects in colors. This is just me - when I did photo landscapes, I choose to do color slides and transparencies because of the sharpness and the vivid colors.



I guess this is just me -- I think in color!



The picture at the top is of a table mat or doily that I did and sold during 2007. The pattern comes from a Magic Crochet Magazine of 1989. In the magazine, the pattern is written for all ecru. But the very first time I saw the pattern, I started thinking about what color to make the flowers and the leaves and how to do it.



I have many patterns and it was one of the patterns that I kept in mind for doing for some time.



I have been crocheting doilies/table mats for some years now - and several years ago I had found out about DMC crochet threads and Pearl Cotton. In DMC Pearl Cotton size 8, I had discovered a tremendous palette of colors with which I could crochet. DMC Pearl Cotton size 8 comes in about 230+ colors - and 30+ of those colors are shaded or variegated. (Check out the DMC USA website for color lists!!) They come in what I call "color groups" - and some of the solids match the colors in the variegated/shaded colors. I had so much fun matching up colors and picking out the ones I wanted to have to do my doilies in color!!



I finally figured out how I wanted to do the doily in the picture at the top - and it is done totally in DMC Pearl Cotton size 8.



I used Color #51 - a bright variegated color with reds and yellows in it - for the 7 flowers in the center.



For the leaves, I chose to use 2 colors:



1. Color #367, named Dark Pistachio Green in the DMC color lists I have, as to me it looks like a good color for leaves.

2, Color #92, which is not named, but I call it shaded pistachio greens, as the various greens in it match the pistachio greens on the DMC color lists.



Look at this closeup photo to see how I used the 2 different greens in crocheting the large leaves that are in a circle around the center of 7 flowers.





As you can see in these photos, there are contrast borders - the border around the center of 7 flowers - and then the border for the whole doily - I chose to do these borders in Color #712, cream.

Crocheting this doily in these vibrant, contrasting colors, was like "painting with fibers" - and was a lot of fun!!

I am selling just a few of these DMC Pearl Cotton size 8 colors in my shop on Etsy - RSS Designs In Fibers.etsy.com.

And you can check the DMC USA website to see what colors you can find in DMC Pearl Cotton (it comes in various sizes) - for your own crocheting, embroidery, needlepoint, knitting, etc. pleasure!!

Ruth

"Rainbow Fireworks" - Fine Thread Crochet with Blending Filament

Ruth S. Sperling


DESIGNS IN FIBER




Hello - this is my first blog about crocheting with thread.

I want to share with others what you can make with the finer, smaller crochet threads.

Above is a picture of a doily that I made and sold on the Internet!

The pattern itself was a complicated one and only practice and diligence can give you the ability to do such a pattern, but what I want to discuss is the materials I chose to use in making this.

In the original pattern, it was done in plain white thread, but as it represented fireworks - I decided to get creative!

As it was fireworks, I decided it needed sparkle, so I decided to use silver blending filament with the crochet thread throughout. I used the brand, Kreinik - you can find them on the web.

The round center is white. At the point where the motifs start - I decided to add in a strand of Tatting Cotton (which is very thin thread) in a variegated pastel color - so I was holding together 3 strands as I crocheted - one strand of white crochet thread, one strand of the variegated tatting cotton and one strand of the silver blending filament.





This is a closeup of part of the doily - you can see more detail here and see the effect of crocheting with the 3 strands held together.

The thread that I used is my favorite brand - DMC - all the white thread and the tatting cotton were DMC - some of the highest quality of crochet thread I can find. You can check their website to see what they have available.

You can look at my Internet shop and my eBay About Me page to see the Fine Thread Crochet I have available on the Internet now.

For pictures of other thread crochet that I have made and sold, you can see my public albums.

If you have any questions, please contact me. I enjoy chatting about crochet!!