Tag: crochet

projects

Crochet Rug with Pendleton Selvage

pendletonwoolenmills

Photo of a crocheted wool rug made of Pendleton wool scraps, a crochet hook, and a strip of selvage.

Here is a project to enjoy now, and for a lifetime of crafting.

Materials

  • Size Q crochet hook
  • Five pounds of selvages (makes approximately 2′ x 3′ rug)
  • Scissors

 

Getting Started

  • Wind the selvage into balls.
  • In most cases, you’ll want to keep two strands of selvage layered together, rather than separating them – it is much easier to work with and you’ll get a thicker rug!
  • If you can’t find an end, cut one.

 

Crochet Time

  • The center chain of your rug will determine the shape.
  • A very short chain (2-4 stitches or the width of the palm of your hand) will give you a round rug.
  • A medium length chain (6-12 stitches or the space from wrist to elbow) will give you a soft oval.
  • A long chain (16-24 stitches or the length of your leg) will give you a more defined oval.

 

Gauge

  • As loose as possible.
  • Try to leave at least two fingers’ worth of space in each stitch.
  • If you are having trouble crocheting loosely, try doing it without the hook and just use your fingers!

 

Row 1

  • Single crochet your way down one side of the chain.
  • When you get to the end of the chain, chain one extra stitch (aka increase) and then single crochet back up the other side of the chain.

 

Row 2-end

  • Repeat around the central chain.
  • Increase at the ends of the rug (for example, as you go into and out of the curve at the end of the oval) to allow it to lay flat.
  • You may need to experiment and adjust your increases in order to shape your rug.

 

Finishing

When you have 6-12” of selvage left, weave in the end using your fingers or a yarn needle.

 

Splicing

There are a few different options for splicing the selvage together when you reach the end of a ball.

  • Layer at least 6” of the old strand with at least 6” of the new strand and keep crocheting.
  • Pull approximately 2” of the weft (horizontal) yarn out of the warp and discard. Tie the old and new strands together with a double knot. Trim the ends even with the selvage fringe and the knot will disappear.
  • Pull approximately 2” of the weft (horizontal) yarn out of the warp and discard. Tie individual warp threads together with a double knot. Trim the ends even with the selvage fringe.

 

Shaping

  • If the rug begins to form a bowl, you are not increasing enough.
  • If the rug begins to ruffle, you are increasing too much.

 

Caring For Your Rug

You can dry clean or hand wash your rug if you like. However, these rugs are sturdy! You can safely vacuum them or wash them in a washing machine. If you would like to felt your rug (the loose yarn will twist into tufts), wash in hot water. If you would like your selvage to stay more eyelashy, wash your rug in cold water. Block after washing so rug will retain its shape. Lay flat to dry or tumble dry low.

projects

Update: Collaborative Crochet with Artist Bonnie Meltzer

pendletonwoolenmills

Crochet Art

Through November, this beautiful piece is now hanging at Art at the Cave Gallery, 108 E. Evergreen, Vancouver, Washington. This finished sculpture was created in just one day at Arts of Clark County’s Collaborative Crochet “Make Art!” workshop on August 7, 2018.

a finished gigantic freeform crocheted wreath, made at a workshop led by Bonnie Melzer from Pendleton wool scraps.

The piece, called “Together,” was made and designed as the day progressed by the participants.  It will be available for purchase through a silent auction during the Clark County Open Studios Exhibition at Art at the Cave. Proceeds from the sale will help fund next years “Make Art!” workshops, including Bonnie Melzer’s “THE COMMON THREAD:  a collaborative crochet workshop.” We are proud to be part of this endeavor, and look forward to seeing what beautiful art can be made from our selvage.

Video

This video gives you a fun look at the process–and the sheer size!–of this project.

 

Title: “Together”

Artists: Collaborative work led by Bonnie Meltzer with Sandra Parisi, James Donegan, Allison Berkley  Jackie Admundson, Karen Bettin, Michelle Craig, Annie Davern, Lida Dekker, Sandra Easterly, Debbie Garbe, Ellen George, Kitty Hibbs, Pat LaCroix, Antonella Mancini, Mindy Morris, Kim Murton, Kelly Neidig, Debra Pellti, Sue Phelps, Dana Phillips, Alaia Smith, Diane Springer, Molly Weinstein, Karen Zopf and eight others. Preparation and mounting by K.C. Madsen.

Medium: Pendleton Woolen Mills selvage, yarn, wire, panel, ready to hang

Dimensions: 56″ x 48″ x 10″

Created in Arts of Clark County’s Collaborative Crochet “Make Art!” workshop at The Historic Trust’s event, CommonGround: The Vancouver Chautauqua, August 7, 2018.

 

events

Coming Soon: The Hood River Crochet Out with Bonnie Melzer

pendletonwoolenmills

Fun Freeform Crochet

We are sharing photos of a past event to entice you to come to an event in the future! Fiber artist Bonnie Melzer is putting on another “Crochet Out” in Hood River on October 20th. Participants are free to join in for as long as they want to, all working together to create a free-form crochet sculpture.

Crocheters work on a group project made of Pendleton wool scraps.

The event is FREE but you must register here:  Register for the crochet-out 

Making the papers!

When it was held in Vancouver, Washington, writer Karen Madsen had this to say about the event in the Arts of Clark County Newsletter:

Artist Bonnie Meltzer wrangled and guided 30 people as they made a truly unique work of art. Starting with just a 75-foot core of Pendleton blanket selvage, participants took the brightly colored balls of wool and joined in, working alongside each other, crocheting and connecting one strand of yarn to another. As artists shared their ideas and helped each other form the composition from a wild and unruly bundle, a common idea emerged and a singular work was created. It was kind of magical and wonderful.

Wild and wooly freeform crochet from Bonnie Meltzer workshop.

The new Hood River Event is OCTOBER 20 – see link below. We have donated selvage for the event, which promises to be wonderful fun.

Fiber artist Bonnie meltzer poses with huge balls of Pendleton scrap wool.

Testimonials

According to artist and organizer Bonnie Melzer:

I had such a good time in Vancouver and all the participants loved [Pendleton’s] big fat material to work with. The size of it enabled us to get a finished piece done in a day.  Hooray for Pendleton! Thank you for your generosity and support. I am looking forwards to the Hood River Crochet Out. Every place I do this the results are different but always exciting. 

So come join the fun! More information and FREE registration at this link: REGISTER