It’s almost time for the International Organization of Lace’s 2026 convention in Durham, NC, where I’ll be teaching some in-person freeform crochet classes. My Freeform Favorite workshop has 12(!) contact hours spread out over 4 mornings. The Freeform Denim Tote workshop will be 6 hours, broken into a morning and evening session on one day. The only thing I can think of that compares to being a student in such a lengthy workshop is to be the teacher. I’ve never had the luxury of so much time for classes, but this is how the Organization structures its workshops every year. What a wonderful opportunity for students and teachers to work together with plenty of class time to explain and try new ideas and techniques.
Since I’ve been wanting to make another Freeform Favorite wrap for a little while, I started one last month to use for demonstration purposes at the convention. The bulk of the yarn in my palette is a 7 color mini skein kit from The Fibre Studio in Charlotte, NC. Combined with a couple of full size skeins from The Fibre Studio and a few coordinating colors for the freeform section from my stash, there’s more yardage here than I need for the design as written. I’ll take it as an opportunity to make a larger wrap.
So that’s underway. The plain linen stitch section is finished (in the background of the photo above), and I’ve started making some circles and spirals. But why start one new project when you can start two? Unable to resist starting a sample for the tote class as well, I grabbed some bright colors. I’m using just a handful of yarns for this version of the tote, including a ball of Araucania Prisma in the Cartagena colorway. This particular yarn is made up of fairly short runs of solid colors, which I’ve rolled off into separate balls.
Using a yarn like the Prisma is a great way to increase the number of colors you have for your palette. In this case, there isn’t much of any one color, but small amounts are not a problem for a project of this size.
After the 100 Day Project ended last month, I intended to work on this wrap every day until it was finished, but I’ve been avoiding it in favor of the aforementioned shiny new projects. Plus, I just started this one a few days ago:
I made most of these leaf swatches (and more) in my 100 Day Project two years ago. Some leaves from that project have been worked into accessories already, but if I put the rest of them into a giant leaf scrumble, it’ll be a great way to keep them all together as a leaf swatch collection. It’s almost like an organization project: no more shuffling through a big bag of leaves to find a particular swatch. Does this count as neatening up my yarn studio?
Holy moly, I wear Crocs around the house only, so why do these crochet additions make me want to freeform my own? Giving serious thought….
What I’m reading: I’m back into 11/22/63 by Stephen King. It’s lengthy.
What I’m listening to: Hello Dolly, the Broadway revival recording with David Hyde Pierce. Can’t wait to play viola in the orchestra pit for this classic in Henderson, NC later this month.
What I’m watching: The Other Bennet Sister on Britbox, just finished. This just might inspire some sort of Jane Austen marathon.
That’s it for today, thanks for reading!
Lisa
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