Yeah! A thread crochet section!

[RachelG]

Hi all,

I'm a 100% thread crocheter...(that's why I never enter the "yarn talk" conversations!) :) The only yarn I have is tucked away somewhere, whereas the thread...I believe it's taking over the house! ;)

I'm not prejudiced...that is, I don't care if you work with thread or yarn and I don't try to talk anybody into using thread...but I definitely prefer it.

Rachel
www.crochetpatterncentral.com (http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com)

[HollyM]

Funny, I have a ball of thread here on my desk. I bought it because it was on clearance but I have no idea what I'm going to do with it.

Could you suggest a good starter pattern for a thread newby?
Think of it as your chance to nab some converts <g>

Holly

[rebeccav]

funny, i did my first thread project yesterday. i got the pattern off rachel's pattern central. i did the heart of friendship (or something like that) bookmark. really cute and quite easy for a new threader.:b
i, too picked it up on clearance, 50cents at WM!

[RachelG]

Nab a convert? I'll try! :lol

I don't know where to start. There are a lot of small crochet thread projects I consider easy...you might just try doing some plain old "swatches" or something in dc's or sc's or whatever you want with a steel hook and thread...just to get used to the feel of it.

As Rebecca mentioned, bookmarks are small, easy projects. There are a lot here:

www.crochetpatterncentral...kmarks.php (http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/directory/bookmarks.php)

(The only problem I can think of from here is what pattern to choose?! ;) I looked through all of those bookmark patterns recently because I wanted to make a few. I ended up making the one here:

www.denisecrochets.com/mrsg-bm.html (http://www.denisecrochets.com/mrsg-bm.html)

but I think, to begin with, you'll want to find something a bit easier. I left the tassel off...I'm tired of tassels at the moment!

Have fun!!! :thumbsup

Rachel
www.crochetpatterncentral.com (http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com)

[Donna]

I'm just starting to try thread crochet. Rachel, that bookmark (Mrs. G's Bookmark (http://www.denisecrochets.com/mrsg-bm.html)) was the exact one I chose for my first project! :bigsmile It's coming along okay, but I need a smaller hook than I have. Must make a trip to Walmart.

[antara]

Leisure Arts has a booklet on thread crochet. There stuff is really pretty simple, but it's pretty.

[Julie]

I've seen that Leisure Arts booklet, an am very tempted to get it. First, I will check out all these links. <img border=0 src="http://img28.photobucket.com/albums/v84/crochetville/cloud9.gif" />

[RachelG]

Donna, that is a coincidence!! I looked through all of those bookmarks, and, although about seven or eight made it to my absolute favorites list, that is the one that I made (at least half a dozen times)! I love how quickly it works up and how lacy it looks. Friends of mine loved it as well! :rock

Rachel
www.crochetpatterncentral.com (http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com)

[crochetcrazy]

I went to the page and printed out Mrs. G's Bookmark and as soon as I get a hook, I'm on my way!

Thanks guys!!!:bounce

[MommaChelle]

I've only worked with red heart and caron all these years until recently when I discovered the joy of working with other yarns! I should try thread crochet sometime, these bookmark links are perfect to try out!

[RachelG]

I think you'll have fun with it. I know I do! Now what I haven't tried (and what I don't want to try) is thread sizes smaller than 10 with a really microscopic hook. People that crochet in yarn think that even the larger steel hooks for thread are microscopic, but really, they aren't! :rock

Rachel
www.crochetpatterncentral.com (http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com)

[Anettos]

OK - I just need to ask.. the difference between thread and yarn? Sorry for being Norwegian here :D

:scratchchin

- Anett -

[RachelG]

Hi,

Yarn is what most people use. It's softer and way thicker and is usually more varied. There are so many kinds of yarns it's unreal. Here's a picture of some yarn:

www.lionbrand.com/cgi-bin...onease.htm (http://www.lionbrand.com/cgi-bin/lionbrand/index.fcgi?page=http://www.lionbrand.com/yarns/cottonease.htm)

Here's a picture of thread:

www.karolscloset.com/grab...nflbig.jpg (http://www.karolscloset.com/grabbag/sunflbig.jpg)

See the difference?

Thread is much smaller and has to be worked with a much smaller hook. It produces daintier items like bookmarks, cute clothing (my favorite), tableclothes, and things like that.

If you have any more questions, feel free to ask! :thumbsup

Rachel
www.crochetpatterncentral.com (http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com)

[Jennie7]

I've just started trying thread crochet and am finding my hands are really tense/tired after I do only a few stitches. Do you wrap the thread around your fingers differently than when you use yarn? With yarn I don't do anything fancy like wrap it around my pinky, so it feels wierd to do this with thread. Or should I just try to relax a bit? I'm too young to have my hands be so cramped up!

Also, I used 1 Tbsp cornstarch in 1/2 cup hot water to starch a bookmark over the weekend. It definitely "worked," and is now stiff as a board, but can I decrease the amount of starch in the future so things aren't super-stiff?

Thanks everyone!
Jennie

[Anettos]

Exactly what I thought it was. I usually use thread for doilies or the x-mas bells I crocheted last x-mas (pic. in blog).

I've tried to crochet a poncho from some Noro yarn, but didn't quite get the hang of it :)

I try to have at least two projects going at the same time. I also get a bit tired when I use thread so I either knit or do some Tunisian crochet.

- Anett -

[RachelG]

Jennie 7,

I'm not big on starching items, so I can't help you there. Anybody else??

As for getting tense, I'm used to thread so I can go for a long time before my hands start to freeze up. I tend have my thread draped over my left pointer finger, though, instead of wrapped around my pinkie.

Did this help, or do you still have questions? I'll be glad to answer them if I can. :bounce

Rachel
www.crochetpatterncentral.com (http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com)

[Jennie7]

Rachel, great advice, thanks! :wave I'll investigate draping over my pointer finger. Oh and sorry I didn't create a new topic for this section with my question...I'm still getting the hang of these boards!

I'm actually thrilled that you don't "have" to starch thread crochet items...I sorta assumed that it was required on a lot of small projects like snowflakes and bookmarks. But maybe that's because my 1st thread bookmark turned out to be a wonky rectangle...until I starched the heck out of it and pinned 'er into the proper form!
Jennie

[RachelG]

A lot of people do starch thread crochet items, but I've never made anything that absolutely had to be starched. When I finish a doily, I just wet it and pin it and let it dry. Bookmarks...a light starch might be nice, but I never do it. Clothing...now imagine heavily starching that! LOL :bigsmile

Rachel
www.crochetpatterncentral.com (http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com)

[crochetlady]

I must have known that there would be a thread section in Crochetville!:cheer I too love to work with thread esp since my move to India. I also love yarn but these days the only uarn I buy are for making purses the nylon kind:) I love doilies and filet ofcourse. Will soon share my works of art with you all!

Hugs
Vims

[Donna]

That's great, Vims! We would love to see your work! :clap

[totallycrochet]

Here is a link to some of my projects ~~

ca.f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com.../my_photos (http://ca.f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/misswillo2002/my_photos)

[RachelG]

Nice! (I've seen some of them before since you posted a few pictures on another board.) I especially love those cute shoes (how much starch did that take?!) and the card holders...so dainty.

Rachel
www.crochetpatterncentral.com (http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com)

[totallycrochet]

thanks Rachel they only take one dip in a heavy solution ~~

[emeraldmoon]

Bookmarks are a good way to start off with thread.. Try with size 10 thread and a size 7 hook for your first time..

[emeraldmoon]

I love working with thread too.. At first I thought no way will I ever, but now I am hooked. My first ever thread progect was a doily.. Now I make them all the time, besides making baskets, flowers etc.. I also do a lot of crocheting with thread and beads..

[rebeccav]

oh, i love the crocheted flowers! i would love to make a bouquet of pink/mauve roses for my mom, but i haven't the patience (yet) for thread. the tinyness (did i make another new word?:p ) of it makes me nervous :sweat

[RachelG]

I love thread...as everybody knows. These are the three projects I'll be working on soon:

Love this one (so much so that I'll even tolerate weaving in the extra ends):

www.denisecrochets.com/apples.html (http://www.denisecrochets.com/apples.html)

Also this one (would make a cute gift):

www.denisecrochets.com/february.html (http://www.denisecrochets.com/february.html)

And this one...to tease somebody who thinks they are so impractical :lol :

www.crochetpatterncentral...andals.php (http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/patterns/barefootsandals.php)

Rachel
www.crochetpatterncentral.com (http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com)

[rebeccav]

i LOVE those barefoot sandals - even considered thread to make them --- nah
do love them, though!!

[Julie]

Rachel, great links! I LOVE the apple doily, I bookmarked that one. I think by the time I get the bookmarks down for the Swap, I'll be looking at doily patterns. Well, I have been looking, I just haven't done anything about it yet.

<img border=0 src="http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/laugh.gif" />

[Tiffany]

Great links, Rachel! :) I can't wait to see your work. :)

[MommaChelle]

I really like that apple doily! And what are the barefoot sandals? It looks like it's something that goes on top of your foot with the toe and around your ankle? I've never seen anything like that I dont think! Very cool.

[RachelG]

Aren't those barefoot sandals cute? I love it when somebody contacts me to put an original pattern on my site. (Although I love Crochet Me and really enjoy seeing it grow!!) Yes, Chelle, the loop part goes around your big toe and the string part ties around your lower leg/ankle. I've never worn any...yet. :frog

Rebecca...have you ever tried thread? With just a teensy bit of adjusting, it's not all that bad!

I love those doilies...not sure when I'll get time to do them, though. Hopefully soon!!!!

I can't take pics of these projects because of not having a digital camera, but perhaps I'll stick 'em in the scanner. I have to scan a coaster I made soon.

You'll never guess when you see it I sat down to try to create a poncho and that's what I came up with...a coaster!!! :lol

More later...

Rachel
www.crochetpatterncentral.com (http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com)

[rebeccav]

coaster from a poncho....:thinking1
i think that takes talent, rachel!!:wink

oops: yes, i made a bookmark - didn't like it at all though, although i think donna said she didn't like doing that pattern, too.....
i might pick it up again but i have SOOO much going on right now:wow

[Tiffany]

My goodness, now I'm intrigued. :) I can't wait to see it! :sheep

[RachelG]

I can't write patterns so I have to have my sister do it. I haven't named the coaster yet, either. I enjoy naming things and it takes time.

How did I end up with a coaster? I was playing around with stitches for a poncho (still haven't thought of anything) and then I thought of motifs...so I made up my own. Then I decided that I didn't want to make a motif poncho, but my motif said "don't tear me out, make me into something nice" so I added a few rows to what I had and put some lovely scallops with my favorite lacy picot edging on it and voila... a coaster.

It may be a week or so before it's up in my free pattern section...between getting the pattern written, getting a picture, and getting it named. It's only my second design. I better get busy...who knows what I'll come up with next! I might start a shirt and end up with a stuffed crocodile. (Just kidding.) :bigsmile

Rachel
www.crochetpatterncentral.com (http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com)

[RachelG]

Okay, so the coaster got scanned, but I can't figure out if it was right-side-up or up-side down. I'll figure that out later.

I'm one step closer to those three planned projects--just printed them! The colors for the Apple Doily are obvious, but I can't decide what to do the other two in. I think white sandals with clear glass sparkly beads would be pretty, but it would get dirty too fast. I'll probably end up doing them in blue. As for the heart doily...do you think it would like nice in bright red?

Rachel
www.crochetpatterncentral.com (http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com)

[laprincessadelaquitealot]

I love thread, too! It's been a while since I did anything really complicated, but I've done a couple of tablecloths and a bedspread for a godchild a few years ago.
My mother used to make a doily that was big enough to cover the middle of a round kitchen table - I snagged three of those when she died. You can make such beautiful, delicate stuff with thread. Love it, love it - wish I had the time but right now I'm doing blankets and sweaters. (new grandbaby due in October - ooooohhhhh- Christening set!) :bounce

[RachelG]

Tablecloths and bedspread? :faint I'd never have the patience to complete those!

(Okay, okay, I am surprised, but I've been dying to use that emoticon above and I just now had the opportunity!)

Rachel
www.crochetpatterncentral.com (http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com)