Saturday, January 5, 2013

Vintage Craft Books

I love vintage craft books.  I make  special trips to the thrift stores to try and find them. What worked then works now.  The color scheme and shapes may be a little different but the concept is there.  I found a set of Golden Hands crafts books dated 1973.  I have all the volumes and they have totally consumed me.

Of course as you know, I try to find ways to keep things out of the landfills and this particular chapter on crochet covered rings attracted my attention. They use the metal rings that you can purchase at the craft store and then it dawned on me that I can use the plastic ring from any plastic bottle.


I am not really much of a curtain person when it comes to my windows.  I like the openness.  The wooden blinds satisfy me, but a valance of crocheted plastic rings would bring in the color I am looking for.  

I am just trying to decide if I should incorporate beads or a fancy border.  


To cover a ring you insert hook through the ring and draw a loop of yarn back through the ring.  Loop over and pull yarn through.  *Continue to insert hook through the ring and draw a loop of yarn back through the ring and yarn over and pull yarn through the yarn on the hook.*  Repeat * until the ring is covered.  Slip stitch into first single crochet and fasten off.   

This is a project that I can use my scrap yarns and take with me anywhere.  

I love seeing my Daughter.  Even though she still lives with me, our schedules are so different that our paths don't cross as frequently as I would like, but I will take what I can get.  She has grown into such a wonderful adult.  On that note, I am spending a couple of minutes with her to get her opinions on my crafts and share a moment.