CELEBRATING NATIONAL CROCHET MONTH

Good Morning Everyone,

I had this blog post prepared ahead of time, and I just noticed that the date states March 19. The 23rd is my day. The book giveaway is for today, and the comments must be made before midnight on the 23rd. I cannot figure out how to change the date at top of page.

I thought that  by now we would be welcoming Spring, but its not quite here yet. It has been a long winter in New York and throughout lots of the country.  I truly love the warmer weather, so I will be very happy when it finally does arrive.

For my contribution to National Crochet Month, I would like to talk a little about Free Form Crochet.  Free Form is usually described as combining multiple stitches and yarns in a multi -directional way.  There are as many ways to approach Free Form as there are designers. I usually approach Free Form in 3 different ways, I use a template, a lining or embellish on a mesh form.  Many times I mix knitting and crochet together.

In my opinion, the easiest way for a beginner, is the lining method. I usually start students out with a small bag and they see great results, pretty quickly.

 I love to play with Free Form, in fact I would say it is my passion. I love all the textured Stitches, and combining different yarns and textures. One of my favorite stitches to use in Free Form is the Bullion Stitch. I have given you the instructions for two motifs that can be used in a Free Form project and that also use the Bullion stitch. When I first began to play with Free Form, all my projects were in naturals - until - Prudence Mapstone and I were in a lovely yarn shop in Woodstock, NY. I saw a whole wall of color and was captivated by the reds. I bought one of each shade, and made a sweater that won more accolades than anything that I had ever created. Since then my Free Form color way has exploded.

My very first Free Form piece made in 1975, I still wear it.  I did not know that what I was doing even had a name, until I met Bonnie Pierce. She told me that I was indeed doing Free Form and invited me to join the International Free Form Group. That was about 10 or more years ago, I am still a member and we have members from 14 or more countries and have expanded to quite a group.
My first adventure in Color with Free Form

                                                                 

BULLION SQUARE (a good beginner project)

I used an 8 or H Hook and Lion Brand Wool Ease for my square

Bullion st: wrap yarn around widest part of the hook 10 times, pick up a loop in next st, yo and pull thru all loops on hook, ch 1.

Instructions: 
Foundation Row: Ch 40, starting in 4th ch make 1 dc in each ch across (38 dc, counting the beg ch made by starting in 4th ch) turn. 

Row1: Ch3 (counts as a dc, now and throughout), sk first st, 1dc in next dc *ch2,  sk 2 dc, 1dc in each of next 2 dc, rep from * 7 times more, ch 2, sk 2, 1 dc in next dc, 1 dc in top of the turn ch, turn 

Row 2: Ch 3, sk 1 dc, 1 dc in next st, * 2 dc in the ch 2 space, 1 dc in each of the next 2 dc, rep from * end 1 dc in the last dc, 1 dc in the top of the turn ch (38 dc), turn.

Row 3: ( Bullion Stitch Row): Ch 3, sk first dc, 1 dc in next dc, * sk 2 dc, 3 bullion sts in next st, sk 2 dc, 1 dc next dc, rep from * 4 times more, end 3 bullions next st,  sk 2 dc, 1 dc in the turn ch, - (6 bullion clusters, 1 dc on each side, plus the turn ch at beg of row) turn.

Row 4: ch 3 *1 dc in the bar behind each bullion st (like a front post dc), 3 dc in the next dc, rep from * 5 times more, end 1 dc in the top of the turn ch (38 dc), turn.

Repeat rows 1 through 4 twice more. 
Repeat rows 1 and 2 once more, do not end yarn.
 Do not turn, ch 1 work 1 sc around entire square, working 1 sc, 1 hdc, 1 sc in each corner, join with a sl st to beginning ch 1, end off. 

You can see a video of me doing the Bullion Stitch at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciaJwMW3Wys

This video has been viewed more than 93,300 times.

                                             Here is another Bullion Motif to try:

BULLION FLOWER                                              

Special Stiches Used:  Bullion Stitch; Wrap yarn over hook 10 ten times (same as a triple crochet but keep on wrapping), pick up a loop in designated stitch,  yarn over and draw through all 10 wraps,  yarn over and pull through remaining loop on hook to lock stitch.  Do not pull tightly, but leave thread as long as the bullion stitch. 

Foundation Round: Chain 5, join with a slip stitch to form a ring.  Ch 1, make 10 single crochets in the ring, join with a slip stitch, to beg ch 1.

Rnd 1: Ch 1, work 2 single crochets in each stitch around, join with a slip stitch to beg ch 1. 

Round 2: Work bullion petals as follows:   *Chain 2, (1 bullion, ch 1) 3 times all in next stitch, chain 1, slip stitch in next stitch, single crochet in each of next 2 stitches, repeat from * 4 times more (5 petals), join with a sl st to bottom of beg ch 2.  End off.

 THIS IS THE DIAGRAM THAT I USUALLY GIVE TO MY STUDENTS WHEN TEACHING THEM HOW TO MAKE A SMALL FREE FORM CROCHET BAG.
(I apologize for the small print, but I could not figure out how to make this diagram bigger)

Some more samples of my Free Form Work: 

Orange sweater made using a template as a patten.

Pink Sweater made entirely in a filet mesh pattern, then embellished with Free Form motifs.

















Purple Sweater made using a template as a pattern

Bag made on a lining, with motifs sewn directly to lining.

 I hope that you are enjoying the blog tour celebrating the art of Crochet, and as a special treat to those who visited my blog today, I will be giving away 2 of my Free Form Books. To enter the drawing all you have to do is leave a comment before midnight on the 23rd of March, be sure to leave your email address.  The names will be randomly selected, and I will write to the winners the next day for your mailing address.

Don't forget to check today's second stop on the blog tour: Jane Rimmer, CGOA board member, will be talking about the Education Committee. Learn more about how this committee works to provide you with the best crochet classes at CGOA conferences.

 http://cgoanow.blogspot.com

Thanks for visiting me today.
Have a great day everyone and Happy Hooking!


MARGARET

PS: I will be teaching Free Form On April 27th at the Knit 1/Crochet 2 event in Albany, NY
       you can find out more about this great weekend event here 
       http://www.knit1crochet2.com/learning-opportunities/shows

www.margarethubertoriginals.com http://journals.aol.com/mhdesigner1/MyHooksandNeedles/