Who doesn’t like mixing things up a little? Or a lot? Adding a new, and sometimes unexpected, ingredient to a true and tried recipe can lead us to create something different or just get our crojo back. Ready to be inspired?
Mixing yarn with other craft
Yarn crafts lend themselves particularly well to combinations with many types of arts or crafts due to their malleable nature. Crochet is no different, and there are some pretty interesting combos.
We’re probably all familiar with using crochet on knit projects, either to add some hedging or decor or to help pick up stitches to fix mistakes.
Doing embroidery on crochet or knit garments has also become a staple (or on amigurumi, like Jenifer Mota’s cute-as-pie creations), and there are even some really cool workshops to up our skills. We recommend checking this one by Joana Caetano (Jubela) at Retrosaria Pomar if you’re in Lisbon around October. Or check Craftsy’s blogpost to start embroidering on crochet, at your leisure, to get started with your own experiments right away.
But… what if we (we do love “what if’s”) tried putting together crochet with another technique or material that doesn’t involve yarn? Like rocks or pottery? Sounds strange and also really cool at the same time?
Rita Kroh: a love affair between crochet and ceramics
You may already have crossed paths on the interwebs with Rita Kroh’s creations, where she applies crochet to ceramics and other materials. We love the result!
The contrast between hard and soft, smooth and textured surfaces, and the use of neutrals together with vibrant colors creates beautiful and interesting objects that can be as utilitarian as they are artistic. Besides home decor, Rita also has earrings that are true statement pieces you can wear.
The minimalistic approach to shapes and patterns allows the materials and the techniques to shine through and personifies the old saying, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”
You can discover Rita Kron’s work with a number of different media on her website, where you can also check incoming workshops and maybe add a new skill to your yarny toolkit.
Monica Johnson: a lacy hug on stones
Another unexpected combo where crochet is only part of the process is Monicaj’s work. As with Rita’s creations, Monica mixes yarn with a hard material. And we mean “hard.”
Stones get wrapped up in intricate and delicate lace patterns in earthy tones, sometimes mixed with leather, in decorative pieces, and even jewelry. Prepare to get mesmerized by the result.
Two of Wands: crochet hooks up with weaving to have the perfect baby!
Stone and ceramics with crochet definitely mix things up, but sometimes we want to keep all in the family, in this case, the yarn family.
To wrap this article up with a call to real action, we share here the beautiful Rosebridge Plaid Blanket Scarf by Alexandra Tavel from Two of Wands.
Here, Alexandra uses the crochet fabric as weft and warp to weave strings of color into this beautiful piece. And if two needles are your jam, there’s also the Waterbury Plaid Blanket Scarf, a knitted version using the same weaving effect.
The possibilities yarn crafts offer for mixed media are endless, it seems. Which one gets your hands more fidgety to grab a hook?