How I finally learned to crochet

This is Magical Motifs Vest designed by Ellen Gormley from the Spring 2013 #5 issue of Crochet 1-2-3 (Valu-Publishing), made with Lion Brand Tweed Stripes in the recommended #205 Caribbean, and yes, it has taken me all these 4 years to finish.

When I started working on this, I didn't even know you could "CL in ring" or "around."
I believed every crochet stitch had to be IN a stitch.

Imagine my shock when I got to the picot LOL

Friends gave me impromptu crochet lessons...but I had so much to learn.
The equivalent of learning to ski at the top of a black diamond run, right?

Finally, I found a crochet book with a GREAT illustrated glossary.

(I confess, I am old school. Video training frustrates me.)

This little Leisure Arts book by Melissa Leapman did the trick, 

Hats and Scarves:  12 Designs to Crochet

Here I even learned double treble. Plus, there's more fun projects to fit my new well earned crochet addiction.

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Vest has eleven 5-row doilies joined by rosettes.

I'm impressed with Ellen's design

The variegated "Caribbean" yarn brings it all together.

 That smile makes it all worth the finish:)

Blue House

I started this as one my final project attempts for Quilt It Challenge! I wanted to go ahead and finish this dream project, a whole-cloth table runner.

I know you can't see it very well. I chose the new Connecting Threads variegated thread Denim Blues, which is great! Except I put it on closely matching large print fabric.

This is a Mary Engelbreit house in the woods. Love her art! Maybe I should spend more time on some thread painting to help the picture show up better? However, I'm having trouble deciding where the negative spaces should be....

What I am proud of - and why I wanted to finish this Challenge- is the free hand feathers. Not traditional feathers as I have been practicing, but more stylized to fit the "ME" picture. And it worked! At last I know how to talk to my machine:)

But this runner did not want to be finished! LOL Ran out of blue denim binding....

I still say variegated thread is a great choice for adding visual interest to whole-cloth works. Can't wait to use all my new CT variegated threads [Item No. 21289: I received set of 10 for Mother's Day!] on more whole cloth projects.

To be continued.....