Sunday, January 4, 2015

Painting Your World with Colorful Yarn

I used to be such a naturalist with the colors in my life.  When I crocheted and knit things often it was in browns, beiges and black.  Then my sister Denise told me she'd found a blog I should check out.  What is a blog?  I mean I had heard of them but had never visited one.  I went to Attic24 - Lucy's blog and was instantly smitten with her colorful crocheted items, her lovely manner of writing.  I began checking out other blogs.. Denise also found Alicia Paulson's blog and I was wowed by her writing style and special and unique photography.  I also joined Ravelry, the "We Love Lucy" group and was further inspired by all of the other people who loved Lucy's colorful style.  Then I thought.. I might like to try blogging.  And I did.  Just a little background on how I got to the point of filling my life with colorful crochet.  Below is my Diagonal crochet piece that I've been working on.  I must tell you, there were a LOT of ends to weave in! :-) 


When I first started this project, it was in honor of a fallen comrade, Vanessa Cabban, an inspirational blogger that died very recently.  I'd corresponded with her about diagonal crochet a few years ago.  I was using colorful cotton yarn and decided I would make a square, then fold in the points to make a doubled hot pad.  This will be the back and I will sew it up this afternoon.


This will be the pretty side.  Now that we have a family of 6 people living here we eat at the dining table a lot and need hot pads for hot dishes.  What is funny about how I'm doing this, is when you fold in the corners, the diagonal design becomes horizontal!  



I have this project that has been waiting in the wings while I started and completed many others... It's Drops Alpaca and will be a shawl.. someday.  The flower pattern is done in just 3 rounds.. and you join them with a JAYG - Join as you Go technique.  I got the inspiration from Lucy, but she uses a slightly different technique.  You can use any flower design for this, a google search should turn up something.  :-)  Try searching for "Japanese Flower Shawl".  I just did and found several patterns.


Here is my palette of yarn.. it's rather like an artist with oil colors squirted upon a palette, only this is soft and dry.  :-)  It "lives" in my "Lucy Bag" which was another inspiration of Lucy.  All her patterns are on the sidebar of her blog.  Free.  She's very generous with her time.  She has a "Donate" button on the sidebar which I've used a few times to repay her for her wonderful patterns and inspiration.


After I sew my hot pad together I vow to add a few flowers to this.  I'm not even sure which size hook I used for this.  Oh dear!


Here is my well-loved and well-traveled Lucy Bag.  I used some cotton yarn to make this and it traveled 5,125 miles with us when we pulled our trailer to Oklahoma for a family reunion and back through MANY states while I worked on my rainbow granny stripe blanket.


The sky is grey here and there is a slight drizzle of rain.  We're relaxing by the fire and Dayle is watching "Elektra" on TV.. it's an odd little martial arts comic book movie.  Well, I better finish up my project.  What are you up to?

Are you bringing color into your life?  ((hugs)), Teresa :-) 

29 comments:

  1. What a nice post, Teresa. I found Lucy's blog a few years ago when I was getting more into crochet and enjoyed her use of color very much. Though it isn't exactly my taste, I did experiment with brighter colors a lot for awhile and felt much bolder about including them in future work. The diagonal hotpad is really interesting and a very nice tribute to Vanessa. I only heard of her passing yesterday and I'm sorry for all of you who knew her.

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  2. Goodness this was a beautiful and colorful post Teresa. I loved it. And before I forget, I would love the pattern for the diagonal crochet stitch. I keep forgetting to ask for it. What am I up to today? Well, we're in the middle of a winter storm warning. So far we have about 7 inches of snow with another 6-8 predicted. Yuck! When we came out of church our friends Larry & Nita had a FLAT tire. I mean no air in it at all. They tried using the portable air compressor we keep in my car but it didn't help at all. So we went to lunch! The guys took Nita & I to her house afterwards and they went back and changed the tire in the blizzard that we're having. We just got home and are trying to warm up before going and and doing a first run at the snow removal. Whine, whine, whine. I'm SO ready for spring.
    Love the colors today on your blog. I need something besides white snow! HA!!!!
    Blessings my friend,
    Betsy

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  3. Oh such lovely colors. I needed to see your pallet of lovely colors today. We are gray and cold! Oh I love all your crochet items. Wow. What a wonderful blogger to give away so many lovely patterns and ideas. That's what I love about the crochet/knit community, there are so many awesome people out there willing to share their talents. :) Your Japanese Flower Shawl, made me drop my crochet hook! This is such a lovely, lovely shawl. Your sense of color is spot on!
    Wishing you a most lovely day sweet friend. :)

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  4. Everything looks so vivid, bright and cheery :) Your flower shawl is beautiful - I'm always forgetting what size hook I use for things, I keep meaning to make a note at the start of a project but that would be way too organised and sensible!
    Jillxo

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  5. I need some color in my life right now! It is so drab and gray all of the time. Not to mention rather dark. I love the colors you are using and they bring such life to these winter months!

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  6. Pretty, Pretty, Pretty! I could use some color here. Very cold here. Windchills can reach -50 tonight and tomorrow!!! Hopefully it won't last to long. Suppose to be back around 20 degrees by friday. That will feel like a heat wave. lol.

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  7. I was going through some old blog posts also today. I started blogging nearly two years after I wanted to. First I had to find a name for the blog! The thought of an online journal plus photos was and is so appealing to me. And now I've been posting since 2009.
    I love Alicia's writing - it is so evocative and inspirational. (Posie Gets Cosy). You two post a lot of welcome local photos.

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  8. I love the back story to your blogging journey. My first blog was Yarn Harlot suggested by my daughter, then I found Lucy and that was all it took. I am so glad you are going with colorful tones now. I think they brighten up our lives. I love the diagonal crochet. Please send me a copy of the pattern. sb34830@gmail.com It is very generous of you to do this.
    Hugs,
    Sharon

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  9. Just been catching up with blogs this afternoon with the TV on in the background. Thank you for sending the diagonal directions! I am not confident that I can do it, but I got out my basket of colorful Lion's cotton yarn I got on sale so that I can try it. I love what you have done, Teresa! And your shawl is so pretty!! And it is funny that folding your diagonal piece turns the rows into horizontals! xx

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  10. A lovely post Teresa! I found Lucy and that was the end of my sometimes 'pedestrian and boring' colour choices..... her colour palettes are so inspiring; I also enjoy Heather of The Patchwork Heart, another wonderful fibre artist!

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  11. What a lovely colourful post Teresa perfect for the dull weather we are having here. I love the bag especially, how well traveled it is. Enjoy the week ahead x

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  12. It is VERY grey here today so your lovely colourful pits is just the ticket !

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  13. Such a beautiful and certainly colourful post. The hot pad is a real delight, love the bright colour combination and how it is done on the diagonal, impressive. The shawl was stunning and again a feast for the eyes with a beautiful colour pallet.

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  14. Lovely to read about what has inspired you. I make lots of colourful thiongs too - mainly blankets. Sometimes I like to use just one colour or a small number of colours for a project. Which makes it very hard to choose what the colour should be!

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  15. I love your post today, so bright and beautiful. I can't remember how I found Lucy's blog, but it was and continues to be inspirational. I still tend to go with more muted colors, while I love the look of bright and beautiful I tend to still knit/crochet with yarns that aren't so bright. I also found huge inspiration with Crochet With Raymond.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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  16. Your handiwork is awesome, Teresa! Everything is so colorful!

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  17. A riot of colour, absolutely gorgeous! I've just seen the beautiful card you sent to another blogger, so lovely! I'm now following you. Suzy x

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  18. That flower shawl is fantastic. Please finish it. Will it be a rectangular length? I learned to crochet as a child, that's what we did then, along w/embroidery! I prefer knitting though, which I learned as an adult. But this could make me turn the corner again! Have to go look for a pattern. Your colors are beautiful.

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  19. Beautiful colors Beautiful yarn Beautiful blog

    I walked 5,00o steps indoors today at the local track. I thought of those who swim! I found a new blanket pattern I think I can master.....
    Im frogging my latest cowl..its too little.
    Staying in for the rest of they day. its zero degrees out

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  20. Not much happening around here. I may venture out for a little shopping today...at least that's the plan. The Cap is home and we'll go together. That usually motivates me to get out. I think I'll make some spaghetti sauce. Spaghetti sounds good, as always. Have a good week!

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  21. I can't even imagine you ever using natural colors. Sometimes I think I should stick with that palette since it isn't easy to know what colors others like, but I am drawn to every color under the rainbow and can't seem to stay away from them. The shawl is going to be very pretty. I do so hate weaving in all those ends. Have a great week. Tammy

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  22. So many lovely colours, made me think that summer isn't so far away really!

    Helenxx

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  23. Very nice Teresa a lovely tribute to Vanessa. So so sad her death has taken a great talent x

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  24. A colourful tribute to Lucy's skill and to Vanessa's inspiration.

    I knew Vanessa, just a little bit, and she made me one of her papier mache sculptures modelled on my whippet Finn. It has always been cherished but is all the more so now.

    Belatedly I'm wishing you and yours a wonderful 2015 x

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  25. I'm all about color, and I really enjoyed this post, Teresa. Love your hot pad! As for your Lucy bag...am wondering if it is lined. I have never made a bag because I am intimidated by having to line it. I can sew when I absolutely have to, but me and sewing don't always get along. ;) Love your flower piece, too! Just lovin' all the color in this post! :D

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  26. We are getting back into the school routine this week, and its been nice to have a routine again. And thinking about my grandpa who is now in Hospice and not doing well. I love all the wonderful color in your post today... it makes me happy! You are very talented. I dream that I can crochet as beautifully as you do someday.

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  27. I love all your wonderful cheerful and colourful crochet. That first diagnonal pattern is gorgeous!

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  28. Your colourful post brightened up this grey morning for me, Teresa! It is lovely to see how you took inspiration from Lucy and Vanessa and carried it into your own gorgeously colourful makes! You are very talented and creative :)
    Happy January days to you and Dayle.
    Helen xox

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  29. So much colour!!! I really like your Japanese flowers, the yarn looks so light & delicate :-) The pattern for the pot holder is really cool & it's nice to remember Vanessa, it's such sad news :(

    xx

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