Romanian lace crochet

We've had a few posts about workshops and other such excitement so now it's back to crochet techniques. This is one that I certainly recognise but didn't realise it's name or that it is very much a skill strongly linked to a country, Romania. Lace making is obviously a completely different technique to crochet but this does incorporate the making of crochet cord. The cord forms the basis for the design of the piece being made and then needleweaving is used to fill the remaining space. It's a skill that is mainly 20th century in origin and is hugely popular in Romania.
It's used for decorative work as in this baby's cap and as an embellishment to linen as you can see in the pictures.
The Lacis museum gives a clear rundown on it's history and a slide show of examples and, if you're so minded, you could try your hand at producing your own Romanian cord with Sunshine Creations' own pocket guide with video.
If you're an upholsterer as well you'll soon recognise the cords from your trimming work and now you can make your own!! I think the needleweaving may be for another day!

Wonders never cease

Whilst on my wonderful trip to California we visited the fabulous Joshua Tree National Park. I really didn't know what to expect but what we found was beyond marvellous. I'm a bit of a fan as far as 'high' deserts go - I love the nature! Joshua Tree did not disappoint and we stayed in the most delicious guest house, The Desert Lily, owned and run by Carrie and her husband.

Surrounded by mountains and, of course, joshua trees and watched over by red tail hawk, coyotes and mountain lion, this is the place to be to get away from it all.
Over a bottle of wine on our arrival, Carrie asked what I get up to and I had to confess to the crochet. Well, you've got to go to the World Famous Crochet Museum, she said. That stopped me in my tracks. But not for long.
Next day, it was down to Joshua Tree town and the extraordinary creation of Shari Elf. Despite being closed I was able to snoop about and take some pictures but couldn't delve into it's dusty depths!



I'll have to tip a nod of thanks to Cathy of California (another adorable blog) for the interior shot with poodles. The 'building' itself is a former photomat booth neatly recycled into this petite homage to all things crochet.


Shari Elf (above with her museum) is interesting in her own right and her website, Good and Sturdy Art reveals a creator of art through found things, a singer and traveller. Take time to listen to her songs which some how sum up my time in that wonderful and surprising part of the world.

Silence is golden

Yes, silence is indeed golden and so is California and this beautiful bridge. That's where I'll be for the next few weeks fulfilling my annual pilgrimage to see my brother and check out all my old haunts and pretend I have a cute cottage by the sea. Sigh.

Now, while I'm away, instead of twiddling your thumbs and staring at all the unfinished projects, how about keeping up the enthusiasm for crochet by reading some back copies of posts. Let me make some suggestions:

Several designers all wrapped up in a post!! Guro from Hobbykroken, Maria from Kjoo, Yael from Yoola, Toutes a nos crochets and much, much more!!!

Something completely different. Many love to scumble. Find out more right here!
Now for the finale. Fffff-fashion. The wondrous Sarah Backlund.
Happy reading!

The Solomon's Knot

On my recent trip to Belgium I went to the Antwerp Museum of Fashion, MOMU for a fascinating exhibition on the paper dress. It doesn't sound desperately relevant to a crochet blog but you would be surprised!! Displayed were 19th centuryJapanese Samurai underwear (yes, even they need knickers!!!) made from knotted paper. As you can imagine it was the knotted stitch they used that caught my attention.

The Solomon's knot is as much macrame as crochet but students are still intrigued as to how to make the stitch. Created by lengthening a chain stitch and then crocheting into the back of the chain, this is a simple stitch and a lovely way to create an airy and open-work piece. But don't take my crass description as gospel. Nexstitch offers a very clear, visual tutorial of this and many other stitches.

It has been popular for use in quite utilitarian items (such as underwear) and bags and this little pouch from the 1920's is a lovely example.

Jolly hols

I'm going to be taking that crochet news from Ghent to Aix this week. Visiting Belgium for the first time and staying in Ghent. It's the destination du jour don't you know!!!

Chaincreative confidential

There are plans afoot here at chaincreative Central and the first summit meeting of it's personnel took place yesterday in my flowery garden. It really was a gorgeous day and I hope it is like a great send-off for all our schemes.

The glittering cast list consists of myself (natch), Claire Montgomerie (who many of you probably are acquainted with already) and Catherine with her adorable sidekick, Edie.

We spent alot of the time oohing and ahhing at E but the rest of the time was discussing our various talents and what we plan to do with them.

You already know about me, crocheting and sewing up a storm. Claire is a published knitter and crocheter and general all-round doer of things creative. Catherine, as well as giving tons of cuddles to Edie, is a baker of extreme talents and I've got a sample to show you which might get the digestive juices gurgling a bit.

Claire looking very passionate about her craft - eating!!!

We're all very passionate about what we do and we want to channel that into some sort of productive venture. To that end, this lunch. Obviously, we licked our plates clean!!

You'll be kept in on the secret as it progresses, so regard this as the first installment!

While you're waiting

As a postscript to yesterday's post that I might be less evident in the next few days, why not trawl the chaincreative back catalogue? Although I might be in danger of blowing my own trumpet, there really is an awful lot of crochet material in the posts from last year and the year before. I must say I've accumulated many favourite posts and crochet material that I revisit from time to time for inspiration and information. Often I have the feeling that like a library, there are unvisited shelves that people may have forgotten about.

With this in mind, how about picking a post-from-the-past? May I recommend this one from the Voyages strand about Portugal with a great designer interview with Maria from Kjoo.

Prick Your Finger, East London

Down a little side road to the busy Roman Road in E2 is the happy universe of Prick your Finger, the joyous creation of Rachel Matthews and Louise Harries, both originally from woolly parts of the country bringing their inspiration to the city and to all who visit. The entire shop is their collective imagination and the fruit of their respective work in fashion and through Rachel's creation of Cast Off (remember that wedding??). I was so transported by the creations and creativity - dressers subsiding under the weight of yarns and notions, objects in crochet and knit and all with their own twist. The wonder of the whole thing is that the entire place has been re-created using panelling and wood trim from just about anywhere to give the rooms a lived in, cosy feel. Even the facia of the shop was re-modelled. Grand Designs can go eat it's hat.

Lovely Rachel made me feel completely at home and ready to get involved in the buying process! The yarns are wonderful and sourced from the UK which is very much a delight. Hooray for local markets!!! More please! Some is produced from Louise's Welsh sheep and some come from the fleece's on Rachel's parents farm in Cumbria. Doesn't that all sound luscious. There are many others and I had to stop myself before getting involved in the whole Tait and Style thing. I don't need many reasons to go back! The window design is changed every month and during August it's been Pompom time, raising awareness for peace and reconciliation (interestingly the Buddhist Centre is right opposite the shop) which gives a whole new dimension to community spirit! Next month is Corsets (hence my excitement) which might not be quite so responsible but might lead to very responsible moments of creativity!!
Also with Rachel today is Rosemary, fresh from her knitwear degree and beginning her career in the best way possible in designing for yarn brands and her own line about to be launched at the Hoxton Boutique. I loved her hairband which is being sent there shortly.

I also spotted the crochet hat (she adores crochet - smart girl) which was a Lion Brand pattern. it's a free pattern so this can be an inspiration for you.

Now listen up, Lion Brand is doing great things at the moment and I'm going to be featuring it more fully in just a few weeks. We need it to keep up the good work and to come to jolly old England.

Rosemary was also responsible for the fabulous outside sign for the shop which she also crocheted and which is the inspiring image that I came away with.

I haven't even had enough time to go into further flights of fancy with the rest of the tour - Liberty and, of course, my wonderful Loop but I'll save those for another day.

Just to say - if you're in London, go everywhere, do everything and under no circumstances miss anything out (that means going to all these palaces of yarn!!).

My kind of town - London is

I cannot believe how difficult it is to find a picture that doesn't stereotype London but I felt there was enough 'reality' here in this picture from Flikr. A little old, a little new (even the buses!) and, hey, some sunshine. Well, maybe not everything is that real all the time!!

Yes, chaincreative is back in the country and with a bag jam-packed full of ideas and pictures of this brilliant place to tell you about.

As promised, I've gathered a glittering assortment of delectable yarny places to tantalise you into visiting. I truly believe they represent the spirit of the place - colourful, lively, different, edgy and just down-right interesting. I haven't covered the complete waterfront on this; there are many, many others but these are my super faves at the moment. I could go on and on but I'll leave that to later when I go on and on about my new discoveries. Spitting Yarn gives a comprehensive list for you to browse.

You can really spend a day criss-crossing the city to find probably the widest variety of yarns on offer anywhere on the globe. Of course, there's cross-over but each of the shops I've chosen offer unique samples of wools of the world for you to choose. In addition, there is expert advise on offer and a comfortable atmosphere that's really conducive to creating. All of them organise classes in every aspect of the yarn process and in one case (more later!!!) even venturing into the world of corsetry!!!! Eeeek, I've so wanted to try that one out.

Off on the Tube to East Putney station where I found such delightful touches like the flowery platform and the station's art deco entrance ways. The flower theme was beautifully picked up in the flower shop just at the entrance to the ticket hall. Then it was the start of the hunt.

First to visit is Stash on Upper Richmond Road in leafy South West London. Michelle Lieberson wrote to say, 'I have always wanted to own a yarn shop since I was a teenager, when I used to go to a shop where the ladies sat around the table and knit together. They would even write patterns for you. I loved that place, and hope that Stash is sort of like that, we encourage people to stay and knit with us, making it a sort of hang out as well as retail shop. After I started the knitting group, Nathalie and I (I had known her as a mom at school, but not that well) became very good friends, and spent many hours knitting together. Two plus years on in business, we still love the shop, and wouldn't have it any other way. Nathalie loves reading blogs and trying to find the next great yarn, and then I hunt it down and deal with the ordering. We have found many fantastic yarns that way as we are both really passionate about fiber and colour, and of course, knitting. '

They have a carefully chosen palette of yarns that beautifully compliment the shop and are so helpful with colour and texture queries that we all seem to have...even after years and rooms full of yarn. Will we never learn!!! I bet these wonderful emporiums hope not! Sadly my picture of the shop was made when Michelle was out and was just not up to my usual standards. Suffice to say, the street is busy but with pretty corners and shops - and this one really caught my eye.

Off next to the other side of the city and a world away from the open airs of South-West London. Now the mood is busier and more intense. I couldn't resist a walk around and I absolutely loved it all. Bethnal Green and Stepney. I don't think alot of people would immediately choose those two as a destination for a visit to London. But that's where they're wrong; there's sooo much to see and do. I'm not going to list on and on but there are shops, restaurants, galleries, boutiques and all in the East London vibe of variety and creativity. Love it. Here are my brief impressions.

Hidden squares and perfectly kept homes around Carlton Square were such a find but none of that prepared me for my next destination in Globe Road - Prick your Finger.

A whole new post is needed for that one!!!

Hotter than July

Chaincreative's luggage is in the arrival's lounge of a country which many of us have a hundred conflicting images of, but little or no experience of. Israel. The main image of the Dome of the Rock creates so many impressions of diverse religions and races and this must be a metaphor for the country itself. On a much more superficial note; I'm loving the whole crochet inspiration theme that tiles and tracery create. That better be a post all of it's own!!!

This picture, below, I've chosen to tell my story I hope represents the possiblilities of that country and the diversity. No frontiers, no names. Just jacaranda trees and a blue door to wherever you want.

Yarn shopping in Israel is obviously a preoccupation for the population as much as anywhere. You could do no better than to go to Woolworks (great for anyone, anywhere as shop locator!) and check this list out. On a grander scale, design in Israel is alive and well and really interesting. An exhibition in 2006, admittedly in the US, called designboom, was given over to design from Israel. The images I've chosen are 'combination bowls’ by alon meron, 2005- porcelain, polyurethane rubber and ‘zit up’ chair by zivia, 2003.

My particular favourite is Pini Leibovich whose use of unique materials and wit really appealed to me. Here we have experiments in wood and cellophane chair with balloons.

My friend on this journey is Veeek, a jewellery designer, using crochet as her medium. Like many in this vast country, she has 'fallen far from the tree' and comes from a very different place. Veeek uses crochet as a means to illustrate the world around her and push herself to learn more about the skill. I'll let her tell you her story in her own words.
"My name is Viktoria . I was born in Kishinev (Soviet Union). Now I live and work in Israel. I learned to crochet about 4 years ago during my university lessons , I have BA in education. In 2006 I made my first hats collection for my designer friend Frau Blau (unfortunately the images no longer appear)that collection most of the hats was knitted. I really prefer to crochet, but at that moment I wasn`t good in crocheting. All the techniques I use now in my designs was taken from different sites in Internet. I am self taught designer. Crocheting allows all kind of wishes and inspirations to be possible. For example freeform tehnique. I do like to use different tehniques in my work. A lot of inspiration in my work comes from nature: the colours, the flowers, the leaves. Sometime the inspiration comes from movies. Sometime from another artist. Sometime it takes 10 minutes to decide what to do, sometime a few weeks. But in the end when my design comes true and people like it -it's worth all the time that I spent on it."
Don't you think we could all agree with that??!!! The image I've used here is Veeek's turquoise pendant which you can find on her Etsy site.

Of course, no visit to Israel should be attempted without calling in on the atelier of the talented Yoola who we've featured before in our Visual Arts stream. Yoola's work shows so clearly the wonderful juxtaposition of nature and creativity, bound up with the mathematical principles of crochet. She is already established as an industrial designer through her partnership with Baribuaand she has extended her philosophy to crochet.

See, told you so, there are supremely talented designers in this field and I hope through chaincreative's travels I've gone some way to prove this. Next week, we're back here in dear old London town where chaincreative will have found all the treasures of the world in the best yarn shops in town. Can't wait!!!