How $20 becomes $1,000,000
I started playing around last night with the pattern for my Catherine-Wheel Cape and I am both pleased and amused.
This is the designer, Teva Durham's photograph of the cape. Since the yarn she suggests is a) expensive and b) contained animal fibres, it took me a while to find a substitute that I liked and went well with my steampunk bustle skirt. Today, I took advantage of a sale at Michaels and walked away with what I think was a great choice of colours.
The pattern is much more daunting on the page than when you're actually doing it -- I've discovered a love of working 7dc-clusters. From what I can tell, my cape will not be quite as structured, which isn't surprising when one switches from a wool/alpaca mix to 100% acrylic, but I think it'll turn out well -- and if it doesn't, I only spent a twenty on it.
I am amused because between switching the yarn and the fact that I crochet so tightly, when I made my first attempt with the 11.5mm crochet needle the pattern called for, I ended up with a piece about half the required size. I found my 15mm needle and tried again with more success, though I think I might frog it and start a third time. (I confess I had a couple glasses of wine last night, so one end of the panel is pretty ugh.)
I might head back to Michaels before the end of the week and grab the yarn for Surrey Outfit #2 (a gorgeous jacket from the same designer) while the sale it still on.
Cate
ETA: Looking at the pattern again, might switch back to the smaller needle, but make the large/X-large size. It would mean a tighter fabric; I'd perhaps get something more structured like the photograph. (This is why we play at the beginning.)
ETA 2: A million thanks to fellmama for gently reminding me that I need to be sure the purple yarn is colorfast. Preliminary experiment is in progress.
ETA 3: Okay, she meant that I should factor in any shrinking-in-the-wash that might happen. She's still smarter than me. ;)
This is the designer, Teva Durham's photograph of the cape. Since the yarn she suggests is a) expensive and b) contained animal fibres, it took me a while to find a substitute that I liked and went well with my steampunk bustle skirt. Today, I took advantage of a sale at Michaels and walked away with what I think was a great choice of colours.
The pattern is much more daunting on the page than when you're actually doing it -- I've discovered a love of working 7dc-clusters. From what I can tell, my cape will not be quite as structured, which isn't surprising when one switches from a wool/alpaca mix to 100% acrylic, but I think it'll turn out well -- and if it doesn't, I only spent a twenty on it.
I am amused because between switching the yarn and the fact that I crochet so tightly, when I made my first attempt with the 11.5mm crochet needle the pattern called for, I ended up with a piece about half the required size. I found my 15mm needle and tried again with more success, though I think I might frog it and start a third time. (I confess I had a couple glasses of wine last night, so one end of the panel is pretty ugh.)
I might head back to Michaels before the end of the week and grab the yarn for Surrey Outfit #2 (a gorgeous jacket from the same designer) while the sale it still on.
Cate
ETA: Looking at the pattern again, might switch back to the smaller needle, but make the large/X-large size. It would mean a tighter fabric; I'd perhaps get something more structured like the photograph. (This is why we play at the beginning.)
ETA 2: A million thanks to fellmama for gently reminding me that I need to be sure the purple yarn is colorfast. Preliminary experiment is in progress.
ETA 3: Okay, she meant that I should factor in any shrinking-in-the-wash that might happen. She's still smarter than me. ;)