Granny Square Using Tapestry Crochet Technique

Most Tapestry Crochet that I've seen are done in Single Crochet (sc) but it is possible to do it in Double Crochet (dc) also.  The Granny Square above is done using Tapestry Technique in Double Crochet (dc) except the last round which was done in Single Crochet (sc).

Treasuring Crochet

For information regarding the HWY 411 yard sale please click
this

Hwy 411 yardsale near Etowah, TN

I spent 2 days going through yard sales.  I was looking for a particular household item but I was distracted by all the other items that people are selling.  Some of those items are old crocheted afghans and crocheted thread bedspreads.  I can't imagine how many countless hours that the makers of those beautiful lace bedspreads and afghans have spent making them.

One particular afghan caught my attention.  It looked like a granny square with a three-dimensional Rose motif in the middle of each square.  I liked the color scheme too, which was the color of Fuchsia.  Upon close inspection, I saw that there were knots and yarn tails all over the afghans, where the two different colors of yarn were attached together.  Seeing these,  ruined my appreciation of the Afghan.

I see this quite often in Crocheted Afghans.  Crochet work that are carelessly made diminish the value of the craft (Crochet) as a whole.

I'm also dismayed to see crocheted work tossed carelessly around, because, I know how much time, money and effort have been spent on creating the work, sure the creator of the work must have enjoyed making them and had done them only at their own leisure, but this is beside the point.  Crochet Educators can help the public appreciate the Art and Craft of Crochet by emphasizing to their students the importance of good finishing techniques at the beginning level because some very eager Crochet students would make big projects as soon as they learn to make few basic crochet stitches before knowing good finishing techniques and this is why some crocheted work appears to be carelessly done.

As Crocheters, let's help the public value our work by making neat and tidy crocheted work that may be appreciated for years to come!!!

Not only did I enjoy looking at the many different items on sale but I enjoyed the scenic drive from Monroe County to McMinn County, near Etowah, TN.  This is one event that I'll remember to do again next year.  Here are some more photos along Hwy 411:

 

How Well Do You Hide Your Tail?

Sort of a funny question ha?  Seriously, related to crochet, this tedious task must be done for the following reasons:

• So that finished work looks neat.

• So that the work (garment, blanket, home decor, etc.) does not unravel during use or laundering process. 

 It is easy enough to hide tails on a project that is made up of  crochet stitches worked closely together; but what about hiding tails on crocheted laces?

My favorite hiding places for tails on a crocheted lace are the center of a motif or any loop where stitches are worked so closely together over them.   If I end my round or row on a mesh, filet, or other areas that consist of chain stitches, I would weave the tail, using appropriate yarn needle, towards the nearest center or loop with the most dense stitches on them, and then bury the tail within them.  See photo A below.

 

Photo A

The red arrow indicates the route that the tail is to be weaved toward the nearest loops.  The tail is buried within several loops or rose petals to ensure that it remains hidden.  Notice that the beginning tail is already hidden within the center of the rose motif.  Always hide tails on the wrong side of work (if there is a right and wrong side).  Some projects, do not have wrong or right side at all.  In this case, it does not matter which side the tail is hidden.

Vintage Patterns, Copyright Laws And The Public Domain

I do not understand how some people/entity interprets  Copyright and Public Domain materials.  The scenario is like this:  A vintage crochet pattern that is now on public domain is scanned by someone (or a business/charitable entity).  After scanning, this person or entity claims copyright to the said pattern just because the pattern was compiled in a book that contains all the scanned public domain patterns.  The way I understand it, is that, a published written pattern is either public domain or copyrighted and cannot be both.  If this scenario were true for a pattern that was mass produced and gone to public domain, there could be several copyright claimants for the same pattern.  All they have to do is scan the documents and compile it  along with other scanned public  domain patterns and tell the public they own the copyright.  As far as I know,  Only one person or entity can claim copyright to the same published material or book. 


I found an interesting article and discussion here Although the article is about a photo, same logic should be applied on written materials as well.

Public Domain materials are supposed to be  used by anyone and everyone in "any way they want to use it", .  Sadly, some people and entity interprets "any way they want to use it", to mean, they can use it for their benefit or profit alone and hinder the public from having access to the public domain items.  For more information regarding copyrights and public domain, I found this
and this

After reading the above articles, my conclusion is that no one has the right to claim copyright on materials that are in the public domain.  These materials should remain accessible to the public and use for the benefit of the public and not individual or private enterprise.