Ditch the patterns, be creative and have a blast!
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I think it was Paul McCartney who said
“I don’t go to therapy, I have my music and that’s my therapy”.
I totally get it because after nearly 50 years of crocheting; crochet is MY therapy.
As with anything that any of us may enjoy doing; my crochet abilities kept growing until my understanding and talent grew until I got to the point where I found myself bored with the same old stitches being used in the same old order.
I could change things up by using new fibers such as Bamboo (a SERIOUSLY advanced type of fiber to work with!), or Merino Wool. I still got bored with the easiness and needed a challenge. I started seeking out advanced patterns wherever I could find them.
To the left is a really simple example of Free-Form Crochet. A truck driver I work with asked me to come up with something he could throw over a load with a light rope attached for pulling heavy straps over the top to avoid damaging Wind Components. I had an extra Tennis ball (Thanks to my road dog Dakota), an old carabiner and #10 crochet thread from my doily bag. Using 2 strands of crochet thread, sl st and ch I made a net bag around the ball and closed it at the top by working the carabiner into the loops of the net bag. Easy peasy! Months later, the driver is still using it.
With the world at my fingertips and the irritatingly quirky sound of Dial-up internet; I found a what seemed like never free crochet pattern websites. No more ordering pattern books from Annie’s Attic or Kirschner’s. I even had a subscription to a small sized crochet pattern magazine, whose name completely escapes me but as they say “if you know, you know”. *Insert here 5 minute blank stares at the wall while biting my lip in a vain attempt to remember the name of the aforementioned crochet magazine.
Although “I was wet your pants” excited about all these patterns I was able to store in a cool little folder on my dial up computer; it was really just the same stuff over and over. Well DAMN it! Don’t get me wrong, I made some beautiful clothing, home decor and just general bazaar type stuff that made its way to many-a-thrift store donation box.
ENTER FREE FORM CROCHETING!
After surfing Pinterest for crochet projects I stumbled on a Free Form applique flower pin. There was no pattern. I thought “why wouldn’t they include the pattern?”. I kept reading on and realized there WAS NO PATTERN! I must have looked for a pattern within the pin for 10 minutes! Finally I started to study the crocheted flower image trying to figure out how they’d done it.
It didn’t take me long to figure out the stitches used were dc, sc and ch. Easy peasy! After fudging around with these simple stitches and studying the image from the Pin, VOILA!!!! I had it! My first try at Free-Form crochet was a complete success!
This epiphany was such a game changer for me. I started looking at images of crochet patterns, zooming in and dissecting them. This meant I sometimes had to download the images and really look close at what stitches were used. But not just the stitches, but the size of the yarn which was used too.
I think one of the first crochet projects I tried as a kid was a potholder so I thought this would be a great little project to try for my first Free-Form project. As I was crocheting a long I realized I had been doing Free-Form crochet off and on for years and just didn’t realize it had an actual name.
What I needed was a crash course on new crochet stitches. Pinterest has been a mind boggling experience when it comes to finding new crochet stitches and methods. I started a sub-board titled “Stitches” within my crochet board. At this time this board is up to 115 pins on JUST crochet stitches.
I see my crocheting in a whole different light. I now get an image in my head of what I want to make and combine the stitches I know to create a finished project. This didn’t happen overnight though. I consider myself to be in between a moderate to experienced crocheter. I did have to break the habit of looking at a pattern. I keep a notebook near my crochet chair for notes on more intricate or repeat stitch patterns.
HOLY MACKEREL!!!!
I have a few tried and true Afghan and sweater patterns in which I use the basics of the pattern and go from there. I call this “the bones” or the basic structure of the pattern. One of those patterns is “Baby Rings”; a mile a minute baby Afghan pattern from a pattern book I bought from Annie’s Attic years ago. Except for the basic rings I have changed that pattern every time I make one. I’ve added clusters, PC’s, DC’s, TR’s which are pretty basic crochet stitches. After learning stitches like Bead, larksfoot, bullion and box stitch the end product has turned from the same old, same old into intricate and eye-catching works of art.
I’ve probably made a dozen of these little baby afghans and each one is different. The only thing that stays the same are the bones of the original pattern which are the rings. I call them “Snuggies” and make them for friends and family who are expecting. For whatever reason babies like texture and lots of color. For me, being able to make something in which people of all ages really like and USE is the most flattering compliment they can give me!
Take the time to learn new stitches and start easy by making swatches of Free-Form crochet. The worst thing about this method of crochet is Frogging and this is where the practice swatches come in as a useful tool. There really aren’t any rules to follow. There aren’t any classes to take or real instructions to follow. Dig around in your scrap yarn for a ball of old yarn, find your favorite hook and let your stitch knowledge run wild. You’ll be surprised at what you come up with. This is such a fun and ever changing way to change up your crochet game.
Check the examples of my Free-Form and let your mind go crazy!
Happy Crocheting! Later Gators, Miss Sarah
Links to Materials Iive used to make my Free-Form projects. I’ve used these brands for years and stand by them 100%. Some brands, Boye crochet hooks are the only brand I use after trying others just to donate them to stick with what works best for me.
Miss Sarah Etc. 