Adventures in extreme freeform crochet

I'm sorry that my blog entries are very sparce but blogger is terrible on blackberry mobile phones the upload button seems to be missing?? and migraines make using he pc hard....
I am now getting more crotchet done though as I have a rotten cold and having more in common with the undead   leaves plenty of room for crochet.Of course I am still attempting the housework, going between bowls of soaking washing ( don't even mention washing machines!!), feeding screaming cats ( mine could rival most opera singers!) and fixing dinner for me/ my partner)  phonening/texting  & begging her to bring food home)...
A couple of nights ago I remembered this huge 20mm crochet hook, (the one theat hasn't seen the light of day since that wow!! have to have, must try this moment). Like Indianna Jones making his way through the jungle I unearthed box after box until I discovered my pink big wool balls & some other rather lovely soft pastel mixed colour/wool balls..
I sat down with my hook & began my own adventure!
It wasn't long before I had the makings of a rather lovely lacy  freeform crochet shawl...The two yarns are held together as I work.Also I am trying to keep going for as long as possible without changing yarns, when the ball ends I change them. Whilst my way of working is rather more messy with bits jutting out everywhere in lumps and bumps! Myra Wood uses a technique in her book creative crochet lace she calls it 'doodle lace' this is what gave me the idea for my extreme freeform crochet version.
After a little while crocheting one side began to look straighter than the others so I decided this will be the top edgee time I have straightened it off more I tired I went to bed. I continued my work last night until I was too tired to see straight O.o....
I think I will make a large paper pattern for a triangular shawl as at this stage I really need something to place my work against that will help me determine overall size and shape. With smaller garments like the shawlette I made, it is just as easy to work without a pattern. This is providing you use a dressmaking dummy to pin the work to..
Here are my tips for this freeform crochet:
1) Don't be scared to dive in and create with wild abandon intuitive work is always the best.
2) If an area is jutting out try working some stitches around it either at the time or when you come back to that area then attach it to the main work. Ripping out is rarely necessary with freeform work.
3) Look everywhere for inspiration for your colours and texture.. your books, photo's, magazines
4) Keep a journal, draw, paint, create an art journal is great inspiration!..if you think you can't draw or paint keep you magazine clippings here & clippings of your favourite yarns..
5) Have fun!! put on your fave music & crochet the night away!!
until next time keep hooking, keep smiling and take care!

Hi all,
I have been very busy lately so not much time for crochet..I have been juggling kitchen items and finding areas to squeeze them in because we live in a tiny flat..the council guys are coming on wednesday to refurbish my kitchen..so everything has needed moving out..I am however selling some of my work on ebay..it's my first sale so please take a peek...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321087014405?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

what's happening and a knitting book review

Hi all,

My crochet is coming along slowly, much more slowly than I'd like..It is easy to get distracted by other things when you have ocd..I also have a more recent interest in needle tatting which seems to have become a huge distraction from the crochet although the more different crafts i know how to do the more of a disttraction they are from my rituals so this could be a positive thing!

I found a cool video on youtube about making art yarn on a drop spindle which would be a lovely addition to my knitting and crochet...so I will be trying this in the near future...watch this space!!

My review for the book Handknit your home by Melanie Porter

 I expected this book to contain covers for various types of chair in Melanies quirky patchwork style..it doesn't! So I was vey dissapointed by this however..the closest thing is the little stool you can see on the cover which I liked..Also of interest is the unusual of rope poufee and I adored the chunky bramble hedge throw..in fact by the time I had finished the book I was one over!..I love it!!..there is a nice section on measuring furniture so you can make your own covers and also the patterns are knit on bigger needles so great for quick knits..great for stranding various yarns together at the same time and knitting...all together a refreshingly bright aray of colour a good mix of patterns. You can see my review and a full synopsis of the book here http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1908862688/ref=oh_details_o05_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
 

This is my migraine theraphy shwalette...sorry about the dodgy photo's but i rushed them to show u...next time i will have to get my camera out and take some photo's instead of using my trusty blackberry..you can do it too! just take it step by step motif by motif... I will add and review some good books for beginner crocheters and freeform crochet later...

Humble beginnings

Hi and welcome to my blog! to give you a bit of background I'm a 40 year old lesbian lady from the uk.. had just started crocheting when I began getting more severe migraines.. the symptoms didn't stop the images in front of my eyes and constant headache..I was suicidal at one point I couldn't stand the pain and I could barely concentrate...but I had to do something..my gp didn't know what else to give me and my appt at the royal hospital for neurology and neurosurgery was a way off...so I started crocheting for a few minutes at a time...patterns were hard to follow but I managed small motifs and a whole world opened up to me when I discovered freeform knitting and crochet..as the months went on I noticed that even a few minutes work gave me a sense of achievement as I completed the motifs I eventually created a small shawlette>>I will have to find it and post photo's (note to brain)...just in time for my 40th birthday party! by this time two years had passed and I had tried a few different drugs... none have which have cured me...I still struggle with the swirling images and constant headaches but I keep battleing on..
with regards to my ocd... I have never thought about using knitting and crochet to deliberately help my ocd but I know its possible this is a very good blog: http://www.crochetconcupiscence.com/crochet-saved-my-life/   
I just got the book and have started reading it....more on that later ....back to my ocd...I am a book lover I collect books...not randomly but obsessively I used to search round and round on amazon finding the perfect one...I got so many one day you could easily find me hidden under a pile from my cupboard waving my fave pink crochet hook going 'I'm over here' now pass the yarn I am shaking here I've not crochet for a week...but seriously i have to cut down..now this is no easy feet...I have done four days and it feels like an  eternity allready...I have promised myself no books until next wednesday....wish me luck!!... what makes it worse is when u feel down.. when u have an argument with someone feel lonely or are not occupied... then the bully in my head kicks in all the more and says 'just one it won't hurt...but my bank balance doesn't agree!!...the negative thoughts well they get me too every day flooding my mind at an alarming rate...and the counting...it drives me nuts!!
so what did i try??
believe me i have tried so many things..i got half way through cognitive theraphy before the migraines had me in bed constantly...I have read self help books and isn't it funny self help books for a book addict!! I have tried meditation and sometimes its good but sometimes i can't just sit with the thoughts or I am fidgety so...
I picked up my crochet hook!
I started some freeform crochet and my favourite pink crochet hook...its a work in progress..its crochet for theraphy and its got me through the last four days and counting....no books till wednesday...lets see how I do...
why only till wednesday?
coz i am trying to cut down bit by bit until creating is more important than acquiring..