Jo Bodley: April 2020

And for my next trick..

I am going to attempt a textile picture of a cat, now.
Pusskin was a cat my family had when we lived on an RAF camp in Wiltshire. My eldest sister was an Art Student at Winchester School of Art, and this is an example of her work from around that time.

As you can see, she is very talented. No pressure.
I decided to do a stylised interpretation, working in a circle. First, I sewed a piece of hessian over a metal hoop I had.From an old lampshade, I think. I sketched the shapes using a magic marker.I used a combination of crochet and embroidery stitches.

Thanks Kathy, for keeping the memory alive!(If not the cat..)

This is the view from the back.Looks like a planet.

Little houses

Just saw a beautiful, knitted blanket made of little houses.
https://www.livemaster.com/topic/3033239-the-boy-who-knits-charming-works-by-jake-henzler
It is described elsewhere as crochet- which it is not.
I made these, a while ago for my fellow Peer Facilitators at Dulwich Picture Gallery, inspired by work of Norwegian artist, Harald Sohlberg.
The cover of a vintage crochet book by Rite Van Der Klip was a major source of inspiration.
You can get your own copy of the book, here
https://www.ebay.com/i/123893032900?chn=ps

I might have a go at making a more standardised version, which could then be joined together?

Colin the Cat and Koi Carp Patterns

A large black cat called 'Colin' resides at St.Christopher's Hospice.
As a volunteer gardener, I often find him lurking about in the undergrowth. Failing that, he leaves evidence of his presence for us gardeners to deal with...
He is the inspiration for the following amigurumi which I designed. It is worked from the top down and ears, arms, legs and tail are integral to the design and do not need to be sewn on afterwards. Yay!
These were made using 4ply and DK yarn, hook size between 2-3.5mm, the fabric just needs to be quite tight, as stuffing would show through if it is too loose.The large Colin in the second picture was made in chunky yarn with a 4 or 5mm hook.

The pattern is still at the testing stage, so I'd appreciate any crocheters out there giving it a go, feedback welcome, positive or negative. This batch of Colins sold out very quickly after being on sale in the Anniversary Centre.

Inspired by the pond of Koi Carp at St. Christopher's Hospice, I designed this seamless amigurumi fish. The yarn is some vintage variegated wool, from a Charity Shop.Must finish writing the pattern.

Any testers out there, want to have a go?

Made some changes, in an effort to simplify this pattern. I put bells inside, one is for a baby, the other for a dog! Still needs tweaking,I think. They look a bit more lungfish than Koi Carp! Mighttry a mobile,using variegated yarns

Anyway, heres the pattern Enjoy!

This pattern starts at the mouth and is worked in spiral rounds to the tail, with the fins all being integral, not needing to be sewn on afterwards.

Any weight and size of hook could be used, the only proviso being, that the fabric be close enough not to allow stuffing to show through.

Several could be made in different colours and suspended to make a baby mobile, or they could contain cat nip or a bell as a pet toy.

3.5mm hook, DK yarn

Make a magic ring and into it make 10dcs. OR If you prefer, ch2 and work 10dc into 2^nd ch from hook.(if using second method, leave a long end for threading through and puling end closed).

Rnd 1:*2dc into next st,4dc, repeat from * once.(12sts).

Rnd 2: *2dc into next st,5dc, repeat from * once. (14sts).

Rnd 3: *2dc into next st,6dc,repeat from * once. (16sts).

Rnd 4: *2dc into next st, 7dc, repeat from * once.(18sts).

Eyes Round.

Rnd 5:3dc, make bobble thus:

Insert hook into next st, pull yarn through both loops, pull up yarn to about 3-4mm.

*yrh,insert hook, yrh,pull up 3-4mm, repeat from * 3 more times. Yrh and pull through all loops on hook.SS into same st as loops were made in.

4dc,2dc in next st,4dc.

Make bobble for second eye.3dc,2dc into next st (20sts)

Rnd 6:3dc, 2dc behind bobble,5dc,2dc in next st,5dc.Behind bobble work 2dc, 3dc to end. (24sts).

Rnds 7-8: Dc all around without increasing.

Front Side Fin Round.

Rnd 9:8dc.

Make fin thus: Ch9, into 3^rd ch from hook,1tr.Into remaining ch, work (2tr,2htr,1dc,1ss)then dc into next st of round and turn.

Work to tip of fin, (2ss,2dc,2htr,2tr), turn

Ch2, 1tr,2htr,2ch,2ss, dc into next st of round. 6dc. Make second fin the same way as the first.7dc. (24sts).

Dorsal Fin rounds

Rnd 10: Into top st, ch 5. Dc into2nd ch from hookand rest of ch.9dc,1dc behind fin,6dc,1dc behind fin,7dc.(24sts).

Rnd 11: Dc along last edge of fin worked, not the cast on chain (you may have to twist work slightly, in order to achieve this),ch1, turn. Dc back to top of head, Dc all around.

Rnds12-19: Repeat rnd 11.

Rnd 20: 4dc to top of fin,ch 1, turn .4dc to base of fin.

11dc,2dc tog,11dc.

Rnd 21: 3dc into fin, ch1,turn,4dc.10dc,dc2tog,10dc.

Rnd 22:3dc up fin, ch1,turn, 4dc.Dc all around.(21sts).

Lower Fin Round

Rnd 23:Ch3 into dorsal fin,ch1,turn.4dc.5ch,

make fin thus;[Ch6,into 3^rd ch from hook, 1htr, 1htr,2dc,1ss,turn

1ss,1dc,2htr,2ch,turn 2htr,2dc.1ss.]

6dc, make 2^nd fin as 1st.5dc.

Rnd 24:3dc up fin,ch1,turn.4dc to base of dorsal fin.1dc behind fin.6dc,1dc behind fin.4dc.

Rnd 25: 3dc up fin,ch1,turn.4dc to top of fin.7dc,dc2tog,7dc.

Rnd 26: 3dc up fin,ch1, turn.4dc to base of fin.14dc.

Rnd 27: 3dc up fin,turn,3dc to base of fin.6dc,dc2tog,6dc.

Rnd 28: 3dc up fin,turn, 3dc. 12dc around.

Rnd 29:3dc,turn,3dc.6dc,dc2tog,6dc.

Rnd 30:2dc,1ch,turn,3dc.11dc.

Stuff body with polyester toy stuffing.

Rnd 31:2dc,turn,2dc.5dc,dc2tog,5dc.

Rnd 32: 2dc turn,2dc,4dc,dc2tog,4dc.

Rnd 33:1dc,ch1,turn,2dc.3dc.dc2tog,3dc

Rnd 34: 1dc,turn,1dc, dc2tog twice.

Tail

Rnd 35:[10ch,turn,ss,2dc,2htr,1tr,1htr,1dc]Repeat instruction in brackets for second section of tail.Work a dc into other side of chain to tail end, repeat bracket instruction. Repeat for second part of tail.

Sew in ends, Embroider eyes on bobbles, using black French knots and white chain stitches.

New Logo!

Massive shout out to talented web designer and neighbour, Van Dang, who has just designed me a logo!

Not sure how I will use it, but expect it will come in handy.I love it!!

Her website is: https://www.studiotiger.co.uk/

Fine Art Crochet- Peter Boel Head of a Dog (copy)From the Dulwich Picture Gallery

I finally started on a project I have been thinking about, for a long time. A year or so ago,I trained as a Peer Facilitator at Dulwich Picture Gallery, as part of a project called 'Together through Art,' which was targeted at Mental Health Service Users, in their 50s.
In the DPG collection of Old Master paintings is this Head of a dog by Flemish artist, Pieter Boel. I think it is an old dog. That makes it all the more poignant, for me. I have a lovely book of dog portraits by a favourite artist of my mother's called Cecil Aldin. He says always start with the eyes.
The blue cast is just the camera on my phone.
When I was an Art Student at Middlesex University in the early 1980s, I went through a phase of making art about greyhounds.

It is nice to see my efforts win the supreme seal of approval.

As you do, I googled to see what was already happening in the world of Fine Art crochet. Check out this guy, Pat Ahern! Amazing work! https://www.facebook.com/padurn/

Also,check out https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2011/04/jo-hamiltons-crochet-portraits/

I think he works completely freeform, without a support as such. That is somewhat hardcore, for me, so I am using a piece of old hessian (sackcloth) I had hanging around.

Doesn't look much at the moment,but hopefully, as time goes on, there will be progress...watch this space!

I think we are done now, pretty much. I've really enjoyed spending time with Pieter Boel's dog.

As he did, I suspect. But for different reasons.

Now we are done. I think.

Using time at home to finish projects

Like so many crafters, I have tons of projects lying around in bags, at various stages of completion.
Now seems like a good time to finish some of them.I once downloaded 15 ways to be creative, and one of them was, 'finish something.'
First on the list, a prototype for rugby shirt for a toddler. Debbie Bliss has a lovely knitted one in one of her Baby and Toddler knit books, but to design this, I bought a cloth version from a charity shop and used it as the basis for a pattern. I made the body in the round, but I think doing a front and a back might work better. When you knit or crochet, you are basically just creating your own fabric, so to use existing garments and paper sewing patterns as templates is a really useful design technique.
It's not that complicated. People might enjoy making miniature versions of what their husbands/partners wear. Or themselves. Women play rugby too, don't they?
Pattern still at the testing stage.
Feel incredibly virtuous having got this far!