Page 40 - Simply Crochet - Issue 93 2020
P. 40
PONY’S
JOURNAL
...from the studio
Designer Pony McTate is getting ready for
the year ahead by making some New Year’s “I'd like to improve my stitch
game this year"
resolutions with a crochet twist!
ome January, lots of people like to set themselves dainty frock for Fanny”. It goes on to include a recipe for
New Year’s resolutions. I’m not one of them. I confess, something called A Pudding Men Love. I am yet to try it.
I’ve never done well with the ‘shoulds’. You know the One stitch that I’d like to explore further is Celtic
Ckind: I should exercise more, I should blame the cat basketweave. It’s a fascinating stitch, one of those immensely
less, I should not lie to my dentist about how often I floss. complicated jobbies with a pattern worked over many rows.
If my track record is anything to go by, those kinds of It is not for the faint-hearted. I gave it a go once, and
resolutions are doomed to fail and I end up feeling simultaneously loved it and loathed it. It took bucket-loads of
miserable. Instead, this year I’ve been thinking about concentration and caffeine, but the results were mind-
‘want to’ resolutions instead. I want to take my old blowing and yet so pretty. I want to see what else I can do
roller-skates out for a spin. I want to grow giant pumpkins with this marvellous stitch. Maybe cuffs on a cardigan?
with my children. And I certainly want to do lots of new
things with crochet. NEW PROJECTS
Perhaps I will also spread my wings in terms of the projects I
NEW TECHNIQUES make. Socks are something I have dabbled in briefly. I’d like to
I’d like to improve my stitch game this year. Despite all the give them another go, especially since there are so many
clever combinations out there, I tend to rely on that old pretty sock patterns about at the moment. I like how
workhorse, the trusty half treble. hard-wearing they are. And – added bonus – they really set
If you find yourself in a rut, stitch dictionaries are an off a head-to-toe crochet ensemble.
excellent source of inspiration. I’ve gathered together quite a As well as new projects for me, I am thinking about
collection of books now, both old and new. My favourites are who else I can share my craft with. My eldest son has been
dog-eared old vintage pamphlets, especially those with asking me to crochet him a jumper. I must admit, I’ve been
handwritten notes in the margin. I found a wee gem in my a bit reluctant to make wearable things for my children
local shop that suggests Little Fish Scale stitch “would make a thus far. I find boys tend to grow too quickly and attract too
“I’d like to give socks another
ere are so many
pretty patterns about at the moment”
