Life
Life keeps happening here. Do you ever feel that your life is one frustration after or another or that the frustrations are all stacked up like so many building blocks? Life has been rather that way here in Oklahoma. Looking out the studio window has been really rare these days. First one thing and then another pulling me away from what “I think” is more important-only to find out it isn’t that important after all.
The continuing saga of the water leak is over. The last little bits done have been done for several weeks now and they don’t seem like that big a deal. Which is good! We have another construction issue starting this week.
Learning Applied
There have been some learning experiences from all the construction taking place in the house. Painters- have you ever seen professionals at work preparing to do their job. Here is what I am learning from their work and why I am even telling you about all the work we have had done.
- Clear out the old
- Plan
- Prepare for the work
- Make sure you have the right tools
- Lay the groundwork or frame work to the best of your ability
- Be careful and neat while you are working
- Finish the job
- Clean up and put your tools away when you are done.
This seems to be a lesson I learn over and over. I tend to dash in and get started without counting the cost, having the yarn or finishing other projects first. This creates a huge backlog of projects in my WIP stack and projects get forgotten.
How to Crochet like a Professional
If we apply all the lessons listed above we can come up with a short list of how to apply this to crocheting.
- Clean your yarn bags and baskets out of the old work and yarn from previous projects first
- Plan your work, play with the color pegs or yarn to find good color combinations or determine your color range.
- Write down or photograph the combinations you want to use.
- Practice any new stitches until you are more confident.
- Gather all of the tools you need and put them all together in your project bag.
- Read through the instructions at least twice to make sure that you have everything.
- Check your gauge and crochet
- Weave in your stitches as you go. It does make it less tedious at the end and makes it easier to work.
- Finish your work completely. Ask for any help you need before you reach the point of no return on the frustration.
- Clean up your tools when you are finished working.
When you take a break in the middle make notes on the pattern where to begin next if the work is complex, or at least finish the row or color you are using before you set it aside. Tie off any ends firmly if the color is done so you can continue work later. Tie it off loosely or use a stitch marker (or safety pin) so it doesn’t get frogged if someone picks up your work to Ooh and Ahh over. (Forgive them, they just don’t know any better.)
Crochet
Crochet HAS been happening here in the studio, though I have spent a ton of computer time the past few months getting things set up. Though I have to admit that it hasn’t been at the top of the list. There has been a ton of painting happening. While I love crochet sometimes I need a vacation from it and we lost the remote to the television for a week or two. Living a healthier lifestyle has also been a huge contributing factor.
Painting
Painting has been happening and it is going extremely well. Here are a few photos of finished projects.
The armchair is for sale at an art store in town and the stool has already made a customer very happy.
Talk to you later,
Karen