Crocodile Shawl

[purplecat]

I had a sudden urge to take up crochet again and, since I'd acquired a book which called itself Geek Chic Crochet* by one Nicki Trench, I thought I would make something from there. I picked a shawl thing that looked like fun and, once I'd figured out how "crocodile stitch" was actually supposed to work, it was pretty easy. B. has started making envious comments about how nice a crocodile stitch cardigan would be (attempts to find a nice crocodile stitch cardigan pattern on Ravelry so far have failed). I decided it would be a good project for "using up" odds and ends of yarn I had about the place. As a result of this I think there is nearly four times as much yarn in the house as when I started. The result is somewhere on the Tom Baker's scarf -> Colin Baker's coat spectrum. I personally think it is closer to the scarf end in terms of sartorial taste, but mileage may vary.









* I will confess to being fairly clueless about fashion, but I think this was more Hipster Chic Crochet than Geek Chic Crochet. I don't know many geeks who would be that impressed by a crocheted tie.

Comments

[fredbassett]

That is absolutely brilliant! I would absolutely love to make one of those, and I have oodles of yarn.

I'm going to see if I can get that book!

[purplecat]

The one in the book is a very restrained off-white colour and rather smaller than mine, I think, though that may just be randomness introduced by the fact I was using random balls of wool.

[fredbassett]

I've just been having a look at the book. Apart from your shawl, there's not much that I fancy. Would you be able to copy your pattern for me at some point? It would be great for my old wool.

[purplecat]

It's pretty simple once you figure the stitch out. I'll email you instructions (probably over the weekend).

[fredbassett]

Thank you! I used to knit a lot, but my crochet skills are rusty.

[nyarbaggytep.livejournal.com]

Could I ask for an add too? I doubt I will ever figure out how to do it, but I might!

[purplecat]

No problem. Can you PM me an email addy, I don't think I have one?

[bunn.livejournal.com]

Wow, that is gorgeous! I can see why B wants a matching cardi.

[purplecat]

I'm quite pleased with it. I can see some things on Ravelry that might be adapted into a cardi for B. (this for instance, though you may only be able to see it if you have a Ravelry account) but I think I need to be more confident about improvising garments before I do that.

[bunn.livejournal.com]

Oh, that is very nice. Would you keep the multi-colour idea? It seems to add something (plus, I can see it would have merits from the point of view of not worrying too much if you run out of one yarn... :-D)

[purplecat]

I think multi-coloured is half the attraction TBH. One of the reasons I now have so much yarn is buying fun looking multi-coloured balls for this mythical cardigan.

[inamac.livejournal.com]

I discovered this stitch (under the much nicer name 'dragonscale') in a pattern for mittens. I have also attempted to use to to make a coat for Draco.

There are some very good online tutorials (and a lot of complaint from crocheters that the technique was not freely available).

(https://www.flickr.com/photos/55912776@N05/16581575614/in/album-72157645266003044/)

[purplecat]

*quickly goes and searches for "dragonscale" cardigan on Ravelry* :( looks like crocodile stitch is a more common name.

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

Oh, that looks rather good. Well done!

[purplecat]

Thanks!

[bigtitch.livejournal.com]

That looks fab!

[purplecat]

Thanks!

[inamac.livejournal.com]

Also on the subject of 'Geek Chic' one of my knitting magazines recommended a book called 'Dress Your Tech' by Lucy Hopping. It includes a (knitting) pattern for gloves that incorporates conductive thread into the finger ends so that you don't have to take them off to use your touchscreen.

[purplecat]

That sounds much more genuinely geeky - if I were writing "Geek Chic crochet" I'm fairly sure it would be a mixture of wearable tech and the crochet equivalent of picture knits of dinosaurs and police boxes. This was much more modernised vintage look -which I associate more with hipsters than geeks.