M C Richards on Creativity

"We have to trust these feelings. We have to trust the invisible gauges we carry within us. We have to realize that a creative being lives within ourselves, whether we like it or not, and that we must get out of its way, for it will give us no peace until we do. Certain kinds of egotism and ambition as well as certain kinds of ignorance and timidity have to be overcome or they will stand in the way of that creator. and though we are well thought of by others, we will feel cross and frustrated and envious and petulant, as if we had been cheated, somehow, by life. "

First Knits?

If anyone asks me, "Which would you teach first, knitting or crocheting?" I have to say knitting should come first despite my own particular passion for crocheting. Given a choice, I teach both children and adults how to knit before I teach how to crochet. The main reason is that crochet takes more fine motor development and eye/hand co-ordination. Learning to knit can help pave the way for the creative break-out that crochet provides.

As a knitting teacher, I need a few projects under way: in an effort to explore potential beginner's projects, to try out new yarns, to increase my own skills, and to have uncomplicated projects to work on during classes. The photo in this post is of my last three projects which include: a fingering weight beret, a simple but warm child's helmet and an easy, stylish, garter stitch earlap hat.

Thinking Craft

"......lately I have developed also a sense of destination or destiny. And a sense that if I am to be on quest, I must expect to live like a pilgrim; I must keep to the inner path. I must be able to be whoever I am."

"I do not know if I am a philosopher, but if philosophy is the love of wisdom, then I am a philosopher, because I love wisdom and that is why I love the crafts, because they are wise."

" It is not enough to belong to a Society of Friends who believe in non-violence if, when frustrated, your body spontaneously contracts and shoots out of its fist to knock another man down. It is in our bodies that redemption takes place. It is the physicality of the crafts that pleases me. I learn through my hands and my eyes and my skin what I could never learn through my brain."

from CENTERING by Mary Caroline Richards

Scouting for Knitters

Sometimes I forget how much jumpin' juice I get from being around young people. Given that, it's a good thing I volunteered to teach a local Girl Scout troop to knit. They weren't sure they even wanted to mess around with yarn and needles but with each success: slip knot, casting on, knit stitch, they have gotten more hooked. We had a problem at first, over how to get them here after school with their work. It seems the school considers knitting needles to be weapons. That seems strange to me considering that a number of teachers across the country are having a lot of success with getting their students to listen with greater focus while doing something quiet with their hands, including knitting. The problem resolved itself from our end when I showed the girls how to make their own needles from chopsticks and their leader brought some large stitch holders. Now they have an extra set of needles here at my house (along with the satisfaction of learning to make their own tools) and they can transfer their fabric to their stitch holders to carry it home and put it on a set of needles there. I will add that the juice this week came not only from knitting but also from finding out that these kids love old silly songs. Think Purple People Eater! 

Crochet A Hyperbolic Plane

Of course, Liam needed a "Curly" of his own so I asked him what colors he would like and whipped this one up for him. The two playthings I made, one of which I gave to Kate and one to Liam were very easy to crochet. I thought you might like the instructions to make one yourself.

Liam's Curly

Curly 

Materials: 

Good cabled, cotton yarn 

A size G crochet hook (I used a Susan Bates.) 

A yarn needle 

Scissors 

Chain 10. Turn. 

Row 1: Skip one chain and *single crochet in the next chain, single crochet in the next chain, 2 single crochets in the next chain, repeat from the asterisk 2 more times, turn. 

Row 2: Chain 1, single crochet in the first single crochet of the row below, single crochet in the next stitch, 2 single crochets in the next stitch, repeat across the row. To change colors for a striped "curly" pull through the last two loops of the last stitch with the new color. 

Repeat this pattern of single crochet in each of two stitches, two single crochets in the next stitch, for every row, changing colors every two rows (carry the unused colors up the side). Sometimes there will be extra stitches at the end of a row. Single crochet in each one, then after turning start the pattern again. 

I worked ten rows for a piece about 4 1/2 inches across. 

Sew the two flat edges together, incorporating the carried strands.

Thread the needle through the stitches in the center and tighten it up. 

With a contrasting yarn, overcast stitch through the top of each single crochet in the last row. 

Thread in any remaining ends. 

Wing Patterns

Here is visual inspiration to share. My husband, Richard, took these photos separately and only recently combined them for this grouping. Each butterfly presents such beautiful colors, lines and forms, yet together they are even more exciting. Maybe they will give you some ideas for your own craft work.

Kate's Curly

Here, I think, is an interesting example of the idea of domain change. From knowing crochet as a tool for designing pretty or useful items that are usually made from fabric, Daina Taimina created a paradigm shift when she saw crochet as a scientific/mathematical tool. She was seeking a concrete and mathematical way to express constant negative curvature (the hyperbolic plane). This curvature is found in nature in plants like curly kale and animals like the nudibranch. She is now well known among mathematicians and crocheters alike.

I have a copy of Daina's book, Crocheting Adventures with Hyperbolic Planes. The other day it called to me to pick it up. I read the first chapter and then set my hands to this strange form. After about ten rows I stopped to play with it, variously: opening it up, folding it, twisting it and wondering whether I should sew the side edges together or leave it as it is. I wasn't sure. In the end, I sewed it up and recognized it as a very cool baby toy, making my own domain shift. It is soft and lightweight, easy to pick up, colorful, can be packed into a pocket and shaken back into shape. As you can see Kate is a great tester!