Just Another Distraction...Crochet Edging

I don't know about you, but sometimes I am easily distracted from my "real work," whatever that is, by a pretty little piece of needlework made "sometime, somewhere long ago" and I won't rest until I have tried to make whatever it is. Such is the case with crocheted edgings and, truth be told, on a dull day in the Nest....any other thing that is not what I'm "supposed" to be doing! I guess I like taking little detours and when it comes to embroidering, beading, or quilting...one thing leads to another, so you have to see where that detour might take you. It might be just the thing to add to your present project. And, if it isn't, well, a little diversion never hurts.

Many years ago, I taught myself to crochet from a little book purchased at what we lovingly called in those days "the dime store." Boy, whatever happened to those??? I think it was a Coats and Clark book which cost about twenty-five cents. I remember it was green. I think it had crochet, embroidery and knitting in it. I wish I still had it...for old time's sake.

Ever since then I have loved thread crochet. I made a crochet tablecloth when my kids were little. That is the most complicated thing I ever made from those big balls of thread we used to buy. One day I'll show it to you. I have crocheted lots of little things over the years, but my favorite of all, and what I have made the least of, is crocheted edgings. You know the ones....they are on vintage pillow cases, handerchiefs, clothing and so forth. I LOVE them.

Not long ago, my friend, Bibi, gave me a tiny piece of paper with instructions for making Mile a Minute edging. You see it here. Boy, do I love making it! It's easy to make, does go really fast, and looks very nice too. Old-fashioned. Just my cup of tea!

I have taken two vintage hankies and crocheted this edging onto them. Both using white DMC Cebelia size 20 thread. That thread is a dream to use and really looks nice on this handkerchief linen. I used a size 8 crochet hook on one and a size 7 on the other. Just because. Aren't they pretty? (Note the monogram....love those and I would have bought this hankie no matter what letter it had on it.)

After crocheting the edging on the hankies, I decided to try it in different threads and had so much fun making the samples, I thought you should see them. As you can see, I've used ribbon, yarn, different size crochet cottons, and my favorite, but I must say the hardest....a spool of King Tut Quilting Thread. I couldn't resist trying this because I knew it would be difficult. It was. I could barely manage it as it was terribly difficult to see. I used a size 14 steel hook. So, this may be the only sample of edging that small that you see me do. (Well, I don't know....depends on what I would want to put it on..I have been known to be terribly compulsive when I want a "certain look" on something I'm making!)

I've included a photo comparing these thread and yarn samples with coins.......hopefully that will help you understand their sizes.

So, ok - distractions are good sometimes - aren't they? Makes you take a different look at what you are doing as you go from THERE back to HERE. What next, I wonder? Take care, pat