Yarn Classes

A while back I lost my 8mm crochet hook. Well, perhaps I didn’t quite lose it, but it’s missing and I haven’t ordered a replacement for various reasons, one of them being that I am mainly working on my 2 mm hook at the moment.

Donal made me this lovely tune and video to go with it and designed the 3D hook which he animated and all. When I saw the hook he had designed I fell in love. I thought it looked very cute although I wasn’t sure how practical it would be.

Donal has been toying with 3D printing for a while and asked me if I would like a new crochet hook. I immediately said yes and got him to make me an 8mm hook. We worked a bit on the shape and what fun we had working it out.

Today was the day the hook arrived. Great excitement!

3D Printed Crochet Hook Made by Donal
Irene Lundgaard 2013

TADAAAAAAAA! The hook came well wrapped and placed in a plastic bag. This is the first ever 3D printing done in this house and we loved it, unfortunately, it turned out that the material was not smooth but had a rough surface making it a wee bit testing to crochet with.

Testing My 3D Printed Crochet Hook Made by Donal
Irene Lundgaard 2013

A bit of a rough surface was not going to stop me from working with the hook which was so lovingly made for me. Out came the yarn and off I went. There are a couple of adjustments needed to the design of the hook, but honestly, I will love this hook to bits! It was made with love and care! Perhaps we will be able to change the few bits that needs changing and giving it another go but with a smooth surface. In the meantime, I think a whirl with the emery board might improve matters… One way or another, I love that hook!

I’m on a roll with these summer neck pieces. I like the simplicity of the grey linen and silver coloured beads – once we get the sun and a bit of a tan I think it’ll look great on some summer skin!

Crochet Linen Necklace With Silver Coloured Beads
© Irene Lundgaard 2013

I have a bag of delicious Mulberry Silk, I have been stroking the cones for a good while wondering what to use these goodies for. Yesterday I completed this curry coloured piece and started a bright red one immediately after which I hope to have done later in the week.

Crochet Mulberry Silk Neck Lace In Green Curry
© Irene Lundgaard 2013

Mulberry Silk is quite addictive and the colours are just so rich and delicious! It is the most delicious yarn ever. Probably!
It’s delicious to touch, it drapes elegantly, the colours are gorgeous. Just fabulous!

Note: These necklaces are for sale in the Deirdre Minogue Sale Shop in Tinahely, Co Wicklow, Ireland. The shop is open Friday and Saturday from 11 to 5.

I don’t know where this romantic streak of mine has come from of late! First there was pink crochet flowers, then crochet with pearl beads and now doilies for the hair! It must be that spring has sprung!

I have had my DMC 40 pure cotton Ecru coloured thread out along with my .6 mm crochet hook. I love delicate work like that! I always have. The finer the better.

Crochet Hyperbolic Doily Lace Hair Decoration
© Irene Lundgaard 2013

What rolled off the hook was a little hair decoration or fascinator of sorts, I think it’s so quaint and would go well with a lot of the Renaissance style hair up-dos I see around. Pretty, romantic and totally cutting edge science hyperboles with a twist. I like the quirkiness of that!

I need a wig to show it off properly. My own hair won’t work for this colour, fortunately a friends of mine have wigs about the house, so I’ll go visit soon for some proper pictures.

Note: I am going to make more of this style of hair decorations. They will be on sale in Deirdre Minogue’s Shop in Tinahely, Co Wicklow, where I will be working every Friday instead of Saturday for the next few weeks. Hope to see you there!

I love the fashion of statement jewellery, I have seen very many beautiful pieces but I rarely wear any myself as my neck does not like the weight, not even a fine little gold necklace with a small pendant does my neck like. However, I am a great woman for wearing scarves, my neck really like them but I find them a bit heavy for the spring and summer so over the last few weeks I have been playing with my hook to try and make a pared down version of a summer scarf.

Crochet Pink Wild Rose Neck Piece In Linen And Cotton
© Irene Lundgaard 2013

Crochet Necklace In Cream Cotton With Pearl Beads
© Irene Lundgaard 2013

The neck pieces are all made in either linen, cotton or a combination of the two. They are light and soft and then the pearls snook into the equation…

These two pieces are for sale in the Deirdre Minogue Shop in Tinahely, Co Wicklow.

I thought I’d share a little bunch of crochet pink flowers I made for a friend who has been unwell. They are crochet in cottons from my stash. I had many colours of yarn but somehow the pinks spoke to me while diving for yarn. I will allow the pictures to speak for themselves while I contemplate what flowers to make for six green striped China cup and saucer sets that I have. Perhaps just something simple in cream. We’ll see what rolls off the hook.

Crochet Bouquet Of Flowers In Cotton
© Irene Lundgaard 2013

Crochet flowers are great to give as a present to somebody in hospital as many hospitals do not allow cut flowers on the wards.

Note: If you are interested in purchasing crochet flowers along the lines of these, drop me a mail on irene@yarnclasses.com

While I was in Denmark earlier in the month a message with a fun order ticked into my mail box. I usually say I don’t “do” commissions, but then again, I do “do” commissions, but only when my creative freedom is not constrained. Fortunately, this was the case again this time. This was an order for two small figures of about 12 cm. One male and one female, he was to wear black trousers and a red coat, she was to wear a black dress. And I was to crochet a horse too…

I have crochet like something of a lunatic ever since as today was the deadline for completion of the project.

Crochet Male & Female and Crochet Horse too
© Irene Lundgaard 2013

I could have done many different styles of people and horse, but knowing the person who ordered them, I kept the whole thing fairly simple.

I had a really hard time making the horse. I have never been a horse girl, when I was a child, so a bit of research went into getting that neck made somewhat right!

Crochet Male & Female Detail and Crochet Horse too
© Irene Lundgaard 2013

I have just handed over the lot and fortunately they were well received! That is always a gamble when doing commissions, even with pictures of the progress during creation, there are no guarantees that the customer is going to be happy with the finished work, so I’m delighted again this time!

And now, I’ll go back to crocheting wild pink roses, I have a little neck piece in mind for the shop for tomorrow.

I was approached by Ashla Ward a while ago with the view to having a Tunisian Crochet Workshop Weekend in May. Ashla runs a Knit and Crochet group in NUI Galway and booked me for the workshop. I’m delighted and really look forward to immersing myself in Tunisian Crochet and not least the wilds of Co Mayo for a weekend in May.

Ashla contacted me the other day and told me that there are still a few places left for the course, so if you are interested all the details for content and booking can be found below!

Essence of Mulranny Weekend 24-26^th of May 2013

The Cost
Accommodation and all meals (2 dinners, 2 lunches and 2 breakfasts) plus two full days of classes with Irene Lundgaard for €190.

About the Accommodation & Studio
Essence of Mulranny (EOM)
Overlooking Clew bay the EOM house and studio is set in beautiful Mulranny with a blue flag beach nearby. The owner Cheryl Cobern Browne is passionate about craft and the environment and is a welcoming host. All the meals are provided during the stay and Cheryl cooks healthy and delicious foods. The house is modern and spacious with 10 bedrooms including 3 en-suites and some shared bathrooms.  The class will take place in the round tower studio that Cheryl has built on the grounds to facilitate crafting groups. The studio will be for the use of group and is left open throughout the stay. ‘Making available the things I am most passionate about is not only a privilege, but deeply enriching for me too – every time.’ Taken from her website http://www.greenwaygetaways.ie/.

Tunisian Crochet
Tunisian crochet is a cross between knitting and crochet.  The distinctive fabric created by this technique looks woven and has very many uses particularly in soft furnishing, bags and not least jackets as well as the traditional use of blankets. Tunisian crochet is typically worked on a long hook with a stopper on the end – similar to a knitting needle.

The techniques taught will be classical Tunisian Crochet and there will be an emphasis on colour work (including intarsia) and texture as well as an element of design.

Day 1 Basic techniques
Day 2 Working circular including designing your own hat or bag.

Materials needed
Double ended Tunisian Crochet Hook size 5 or 6 mm and Aran weight yarn in different colours.
A limited number of hooks will be available for sale at the workshop.

To book
Contact Ashla Ward, 086 1936620
or email ashla.ward@nuigalway.ie

I am busy teaching crochet these days and was delighted to have a great day in the Deirdre Minogue Shop in Tinahely, Co Wicklow on Saturday where my crochet sold well – I have a shop in Deirdre’s shop and love the concept of cooperation in that way!

My good sales on Saturday means some of the nicer pieces of mine are now sold and I am busy making something new – pink wild roses are on the agenda as a little reminder that summer is nigh!

Crochet Male & Female
© Irene Lundgaard 2013

However, I had a request for a few little crochet figures which I have to complete by the end of the week. The yarn is fine and there are many stitches to do. These two little people need a coat and a dress and a horse too…  No idle hands indeed.

Note: Deirdre Minogue’s Sale Shop, Tinahely, Co Wicklow is open every Friday and Saturday from 11am to 5pm. I man the shop every Saturday (although through May I will be manning the shop on Fridays) and I hope you call in to say hello if you are in the area!

We had two great, inspiring fun days at the Library in Skive. I think the photos from the days tell their own tale, don’t you?

Crochet Workshops at Skive Library April 2013
© Irene Lundgaard 2013

It was such a joy to see so many know faces yet again. I sometimes wonder if the crocheters that return every time come because I haven’t taught them well enough in the first place, but I choose to believe that they come because they think the crochet workshops are inspiring and fun!

I also had the privilege of meeting lovely Anne, we have known each other for years online but never met in IRL. Anne came with hugs for me from both Marianne and Lene too! I am a lucky woman!

Special thanks to Skive Bibliotek and particularly to Anette for all her support and help!

I have arrived in Denmark and I’m busy finalizing the last few items for the workshops on Friday and Saturday. I thought I’d share a quick photo of one of the items that we will be working on on Saturday. It’s an armband in some lovely cotton and when my mother saw the flowers she immediately called them Edelweiss, her name is Edel – perfection!

Edelweiss Arm Band in Cotton
© Irene Lundgaard 2013

My mother is playing a blinder helping me out, she has sewn away A LOT of ends on my models for the workshops! That is what I call true love! Tak Mor!