My first freeform piece (WIP)

[Ladycrochat]

Well, I have gotten up enough courage to actually try this.....now it is time to show everyone here what I have come up with so far. Please tell me HONESTLY what you think....I value your criticisms and advice......my idea here is to make a more or less squared off piece to hang on the wall banner style....
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h157/DKousmat58/Crochet/DSCN2530.jpg

[olive]

It's really interesting. I'd love to see how it looks all finished.

[birdlady1]

Honest opinion? I do like it. Very much!:yes

[peggytoes]

THAT'S AWESOME!!! I've got to try that sometime, but I'd like mine to have
just a bit more organization to it ... in your's I see some CHOCOLATES!!
Wouldn't that be fun to make an afghan or something with a bunch of different chocolates as the theme!!! It also reminds of a piece of art I did
in college!!! GREAT JOB - can't wait to see it finished!!!:D

[newthingcrochet]

I like it! It reminds me of a bunch of candy!

[kimbo]

I think it's great! The randomness of it is what makes it freeform (I think)! I wouldn't make it too squared off, I think the uneven edges are just perfect! Very Nice!
Kim

[jleinhauser]

A visually exciting piece -- well done! I too vote for not squaring it off.
My only suggestion would be to add a big of demension with the next few
segments.

Jean Leinhauser

[brennae74]

Looks like a piece of art. :hook

[cherrypicker]

wow! its beautiful! its just my cup of tea! it looks like an abstract painting, Id love to make something like that! :)

[misssmaggie]

So unique and colorful...can't wait to see the completed project !!! Thanks for sharing!

[Ladycrochat]

Well! You are all just great for my ego! Honestly, I was a bit worried :blush posting it, because I know that freeform crochet isn't :no for everyone......I will take all your fine advice to heart, and try to improve what I have here......thanks:hug so much everyone for your input....You guys are THE BEST!:ghug

[Shell]

looks good to me. only thing i would say is that it doesn't have the textures i see in other freeform. but each to their own! looks good as is and i bet it will look great like a wall hanging.

[Ladycrochat]

I will look for more "textured" stitches......I do not have textured yarns here....so I tried for some variety by useing cassette tape, fabric, thread ,plastic and yarn in this one. I will go on a TEXTURE hunt!:lol

[charitas32]

it is lovely, remindsmeof willy wonka, an explosion in the candy store! well that is what it reminds me of!

[classic crochet]

Debbie, I love the colors you picked! Very pretty piece!

[moonrhythm]

i think that it's a great piece for a first timer in freeform!

[Ladycrochat]

Candies and chocolates! Well, it wasn't my intention....but I HAVE been dieting........ so perhaps It is subliminal!:lol

[hookdonU]

Well, I have gotten up enough courage to actually try this.....now it is time to show everyone here what I have come up with so far. Please tell me HONESTLY what you think....I value your criticisms and advice......my idea here is to make a more or less squared off piece to hang on the wall banner style....
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h157/DKousmat58/Crochet/DSCN2530.jpg (http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h157/DKousmat58/Crochet/DSCN2530.jpg)

That is really neat!!!! This is my 1st time checking out the freeform forums and so I'm intrigued. I love how colorful it is. Thanks for sharing!

[artemis]

Good for you, Debbie! It is turning out great! I do love the cheerful colors. I agree it looks like candy...what my grandmother used to call "Jinglebits", those hard candies with the little pictures inside.

I also think it should have irregular edges.

What about a bit more texture? Those boullion stitches that Moonrhythm used might be good. Check out u-Tube and Margaret Hubert's video of how to make them. I'll post the link in a minute.

Keep up the good work, and let us see how your wall hanging progresses.

[artemis]

Here's how to make the boullion stitch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciaJwMW3Wys

[Ladycrochat]

THANKS for that video link Artemis! I was wrapping my loops too tightly, and not useing the widest part of the hook......it is such an easy but clever idea! Now the roll/boullion stitch is MUCH easier! LOL!:hook

And thank you for your encouragement everyone! Since there are not really any guidelines to doing freeform crochet it is easier (freedom wise) but on the other hand, feed back from others is important because you do not get any feedback from knowing you are following a pattern correctly. I am just so used to having a definite idea of exactly what I am supposed to be doing while crocheting.Imust learn to trust my instincts and just "go with the flow" so to speak!

[Shell]

I am just so used to having a definite idea of exactly what I am supposed to be doing while crocheting. Imust learn to trust my instincts and just "go with the flow" so to speak!
I hear ya! The thought of doing something "random" just doesn't seem to mesh with me. Be it crochet, scrapbooking etc I just can't get it to work. The funny thing being it's not supposed to work :think Yeah, I'll leave ya to it cos you're doing a great job :)

[Fidgement]

Debbie, your piece is coming along great. I like it a lot. My tip for bullions is to use a bamboo hook. I've been successful with regular aluminum hooks, but for some yarns, they just don't do well. I found that using a bamboo hook made my life a lot easier. Bullions really are fun and can be addicting. Please post more pics as you progress. I'm looking forward to seeing the completed piece of art work.:yes :yes :yes

[Shell]

i was going to ask Debbie if she had any updates, didn't realise it's only been a week :blush

[artemis]

Any updates for us, Debbie? I'm eager to see what you have done.

[Ladycrochat]

No, nothing new for now, I am preparing for a trip overseas to see my family (passport renewals, travel documents for the cat,tickets and dozens of other small things that need tending to before I leave).......and that limits the free time I have to crochet....I will continue with it when I return at the end of the summer. I am not in any hurry to get it done now. And I think I can do a better job on it if I am working "Fresh" rather than do just ANYTHING in order to finish it! I do not work well under pressure! LOL!

[Shell]

which is fair enough too :) hope you get all that bothersome holiday stuff sorted out (if i'd ever had a holiday i'd be a little more inclined to agree with bothersome than be jealous that you're going on one lol) sounds like great fun, especially seeing family!!

[lizdini]

I'm not really into freeform, but that does look cool. I like the little "sock" shaped pieces.:cheer

[livedinalaska]

I LOVE colorful things and this totally does remind me of candy! It's too fun! Great job!

[magiccrochetfan]

I like your piece a lot...the colors and the different shapes. I did not see the cassette tape in there at all at first, so I think some of the different textures don't really show up well in the photo. I like it the way it is; I know a lot of freeform is very textur-y, but smoother is good too. I notice the embroidery on the turquoise piece at the top, I like that a lot. and the raised stitches like a cable on the plum piece on the left, I like that. the way you incorporated different colors in sections is great. It does remind me of candy, or something light-hearted at any rate.

(I also like the tile in the background. You must be surrounded by design inspiration, living in Morocco:) )

[Aggie May]

:cheerI think it is absolutely fabulous and would not change a thing about it, except maybe to embellish it with come beads to give it the texture that someone else thought was missing.

If you start adding texture by using different stitches now, you will end up with a plainer piece surrounded by texture which may spoil the look.

:crochetingThe colours are great and you should be very proud of yourself.:crocheting

Free Form is very tricky because it is not as Free as we think it is and so far you are doing very nicely.

Thanks for sharing.
Have fun.
Colleen:hug

[Evilameba]

im in awe!its truly a work of art!dont sqare it off! its perfect!i wish i had made it.......:D

[Titus2woman]

I really, really like it! (((((HUGS))))) sandi

[gerykho]

i like the colors. but what will you do with it? will you use that as a blanket or wall hanging?

[Laurakis]

really nice.... funky and colourful, i love it!:cheer

[psxmom]

very neat!! love it!!

[CrochetCynde]

That's the fun of free-form!! You can do whatever you want and what you make is yours. Isn't it fun to try something different?

[123mensinger]

:artistThat is a work of art. :hugThanks for sharing. Love all the colors.:yes

[craziebunny]

That is great looking!

[TheShrewMC]

I would have to say that I love it. It would look amazing on a wall.

[judianne]

I really like it! Don't square it off....
I have trouble when I try to be "random"...but I'd love to be able to do FF, but I somehow think DH wouldn't care for the random nature of it...

It looks like you had fun making it...and it DOES look like dessert;)

[coolhockeymom]

I was never crazy about freeform maybe because I never understood not having a plan or a direction for something ,but yours makes me think of a box of chocolates . I think you have done a great job

[Carradee]

It's a bit chaotic for my preference, but I can think of one friend of mine who would love it. I'd advise against adding textured stitches at this point; you've already done so much without that I suspect it would detract from the end look. (But it's up to you. I've already admitted that my tastes run in another direction. :) )

[Ladycrochat]

Since I have not touched this piece for a long time....I am not sure if it counts as a WIP, it just might be a UFO!:blush I have been side tracked with various gifts that must get made, and an afghan....also my daughter will get married soon and wants me to make her a brides purse......hopefully I will get around to finishing this, eventually I hope to hang it on the wall.

[spoildarmywife]

Wow! I love all the bright colors. Great job!

[beth_in_indy]

It has a lot of energy and texture; I do like it, a lot better than a painting in the same style. Well done! Beth

[EMedley]

Im not just saying this to be nice, but thats really super cool! I don't have the guts to try that yet so good luck and I wanna see what it looks like finished

[Lilly Flower]

Truly I wish I could do something as amazing as the piece you have created. It makes me want to try freeform, but I know I would never be able to create something as wonderful as you have. You have a great gift! I wish I cold steal it from you! =)

[Monique39]

very creative!!