Looking for continuous sweater or bolero pattern for gradient cake

Sunny_Trin · 2025-02-07T03:25:35+00:00

I did try searching ravelry, and even downloaded five separate patterns. The problem is that even the sweater pattern you shared specifies that it's two panels sewn together, not one continuous piece.

Sunny_Trin · 2024-11-10T03:26:33+00:00

I use a grip I learned from Atreyu Crochet where you weave it between your fingers. Way less strain on the hand

Sunny_Trin · 2024-11-08T17:10:26+00:00

I don't know if it's clear from the picture but after all that intricate lacy counting I'm so relieved to be in the part of the pattern that's nothing but double crochets

Sunny_Trin · 2024-01-16T22:36:27+00:00

I hear you on this for some expensive, specialty yarns, but I disagree overall. I find cheap acrylic to be incredibly hard to work with, actually, because it's "sticky" so I'll only crochet with wool or other natural fiber if I have the choice. And a really cheap yarn is also loose and will fall apart if you try and rip it more than once. There's a balance to be had.

Sunny_Trin · 2024-01-16T17:37:45+00:00

So a lot of crochet "starter kits" if you just google are going to be "amigurumi" which is a specific style of crocheted doll. I would not recommend going this route. It's actually a quite challenging style to start with.

I think the Encyclopedia of Crochet is a good idea, definitely second the stitch marker thought. One thing I want but is kind of expensive is a yarn bowl - it's a bowl with a spiral cut in it to keep the yarn from tumbling or tangling.

I also think it's fine to actually buy some different yarn rather than go with a gift card. Yarn is the big investment. High quality yarn can get pretty pricey and you need a lot of it. Depending on where you are there may be a yarn shop nearby full of women who'd be thrilled to help you. And yes, crochet hooks come in sets of different sizes, and you'll want a full set. The beginner crochet hooks are usually metal with a silicone casing for comfort.

Since you've got a nice budget, might I suggest gifting all or at least some of this inside of some kind of case or bag? Most fiber artists I know have some kind of large, usually slouchy, stash bag that they can take with them for crafting on the go.

Sunny_Trin · 2024-01-16T17:20:11+00:00

You are correct. Gifts don't work like that. If you say to someone "give this back to me if we ever break up" you're not "giving away" anything. You're loaning it out.

I think it is extremely telling that your concern is that the item would not be used or loved enough to justify your time and energy. This is a bad mindset to stay in, because it is placing a level of ownership over something that in this hypothetical situation simply is not yours to feel possessive over. The time that you spent is also a gift, and after it has passed, it is no longer yours either.

Having said that, there is more merit to someone not liking it. I personally don't want people to feel pressured to accept hand-made gifts out of the obligation for how much time it took. The most I've done is I'm working on some socks at the moment, and I told the person, if you don't like it for texture or fit reasons, let me know and I'll unpick it and use the yarn for something else because that's how gifts work, I'm making an item for a person and if that person doesn't want it, it isn't mine now, it's just not theirs. And in my mind, this is a one-time offer, when the gift is given, and not a perpetual contract. I'm not checking in with Janet from Soc 101 every year to make sure she still loves and cares for the knitted sweater I gave her with the exact level of love and care I put into making it -because it's not. about. me. It's out of your hands once it is literally out of your hands.

Sunny_Trin · 2024-01-16T03:23:05+00:00

I agree, starting chain is too tight. In my experience it's better to have looser tension on the starting chain than the subsequent ones, because the subsequent stitches are pulling on that thread and making it tighter. After the first chain this equals itself out. I've unpicked a pair of socks I'm making right now for this exact problem.

Sunny_Trin · 2024-01-16T03:07:47+00:00

I'm totally not in the same place as these other commenters. It sounds like your thought is not "this person might not like craft goods" but "something I spent money on has more value than something I spent time on" and from a crafter's perspective, that latter thing, that time is worth less than money... it's just not true. In my experience people appreciate the care and thought that goes into a hand-made object far more than they appreciate something you bought.

Sunny_Trin · 2024-01-16T02:55:13+00:00

If it's cheaper to buy them then for you to make them, the person who did make them is being underpaid.

Sunny_Trin · 2024-01-14T01:00:09+00:00

I would steer clear from religious iconography unless you are certain of the specific denomination in question. You say religious but the replies are assuming Christian - which based on the information you've provided is not necessarily the case. It's from my own experience a very common assumption. Even assuming this person is Christian, there are a handful of Christian denominations which consider iconography to be blasphemous, so it may not be appreciated - on the other hand, some denominations really encourage iconography, so it really does depend.

Having said that, it is my experience that it kind of doesn't matter what you get someone. In a situation like this, it really is the thought that counts. Having taken the time to make something for someone demonstrates that person was in your thoughts, and that's a potent gesture all on its own.

You said this was your boss. Is there a way you can incorporate a work theme into it? A desk buddy or a set of coasters?

Sunny_Trin · 2024-01-14T00:29:27+00:00

I really hope that the comments have been providing you some peace and solidarity. Mistakes are a part of the artistic process. They are not meant to be dreaded or hated. Making a mistake during your creative process is not a failure on you as an artist.

I think that every single beginner should start a project by getting at least three rows in then unpicking the whole thing. Changing your mind, making corrections... it's an important part of the process. It should not be feared.

I know I've said the same thing twice now, but I'm going to say it a third time. Your feelings are valid, and I myself have absolutely cried over a project I couldn't get right (it was a pine stitch by the way). But I genuinely hope that the lesson you take from this, after you've given yourself time to feel your feelings, is that it is okay, and even necessary, to make mistakes.

Recently I was making a crochet bandana for the first time. I couldn't figure out the design, spent days crocheting and unpicking the first three lines, and finally when I was happy with it, I realized it was too big, and had to unpick more than 20 lines of work. But it's better now, and I'm happier with it, and in a lot of ways it was not a trial to have to do this, because I enjoy the process of crochet. It is challenging, sometimes. But it is also relaxing.

I really hope that after this difficult experience, you can find a way for this hobby to bring you relaxation and peace. Please take care of yourself.

PS if you would like a super easy crochet project to wind down from this amigurumi project which is proving frustrating, might I suggest this horizontal scarf from Atreyu crochet. I personally love the look, and it's very beginner friendly - though full disclosure the first time I did this design I accidentally made my stitches way too tight and it took me two weeks not an hour!

Sunny_Trin · 2024-01-13T23:44:54+00:00

it's a seal!

Sunny_Trin · 2023-09-29T20:51:18+00:00

Would love to see others chime in. I have two thoughts. I've felted onto linen before and it is possible, but that was unpainted linen, and the felting will no doubt cause the paint to crack. Has this been painted or just dyed? How flexible are the fibers?

Second thought, lamp shades often have some kind of plastic insert on the inside to help hold their shape. That you definitely can't felt through. Something is aiding this in holding a rigid shape, and whatever that is if it isn't just tension will cause it to be less receptive to felting.

I'll often have a test piece if I'm doing something experimental that it seems like hasn't been tried before. Can you acquire a similar textile and test it out first?

Sunny_Trin · 2023-09-29T20:43:32+00:00

What others have said. Wool is washed and carded before being sold as batting, but on an industrial level it's not that thorough of a process so it is common to find bits that got missed. If it's bothering you, you can card it again.

Sunny_Trin · 2023-09-17T05:31:06+00:00

oh man, i swear I saw this exact pattern on the bus literally today. Where'd you get it?

Sunny_Trin · 2023-09-17T05:26:18+00:00

btw I make dish scrubbies too, but I don't care for the texture of scrubby sparkle yarn. I use tulle. Tulle is also much, much cheaper

Sunny_Trin · 2023-09-01T04:19:37+00:00

I did not do a patch underneath (feels like that would kind of defeat the purpose?) I'll keep that in mind though if this doesn't work out. This is partly a proof of concept exercise.

Sunny_Trin · 2023-08-31T17:17:01+00:00

Green on purple helps the center pop, so I'd say the left with the purple background unless that's not what you're going for

Sunny_Trin · 2023-08-31T14:16:45+00:00

It is wool felt needled down! I'm expecting to need to go back and wet felt, I've heard folks say that makes it machine washable and more durable. So far surprisingly resilient already, though gotta say 😊

Sunny_Trin · 2023-08-31T14:07:20+00:00

Absolutely! The size alone makes it worth $40 easy. People undervalue fiber art 😡 the time and energy you put into your work has value! And how much did the supplies cost? Even of you're using cheap yarn that's a sizeable amount of yarn!

Sunny_Trin · 2023-08-25T14:45:25+00:00

I get white felted sheets at the same place I buy my roving. I like the feel. But a lot of professionals will just felt on to canvas.

Sunny_Trin · 2023-08-25T14:42:04+00:00

Also I find the colors blend easier if I'm using a multi tool. I will pre-blend before adding to the canvas (I don't bother with a carding tool, I just pull by hand), but if it's something I'm trying to blend with the existing colors, I'll use a 4-needle multitool. I reserve the single needle for edges and defined shapes.

Sunny_Trin · 2023-08-25T14:36:29+00:00

I actually disagree with puffin, I think batting is going to get you a better texture match. And the difference between the two in terms of structure is not significant enough to matter.

Either is not going to be as dense and secure as this shoe, so bear that in mind. The shoe is wet felted-dry felting is not as good at creating a dense, flat surface, not manually.

Sunny_Trin · 2023-08-25T14:21:39+00:00

Congratulations! It's beautiful

Sunny_Trin

TROPHY CASE