Crochet is back! Well, it has been working its way back into mainstream style and fashion circles for a few years now. I always find it interested when crochet accessories very happily dive into the kitschy, somewhat tacky color and yarn combinations of the 60s and 70s.
Example: the Sweet Retreat Hat now available on Modcloth.
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Sweet Retreat Hat[/caption]
In the eyes of a crocheter, this looks like the perfect scrap yarn project. It looks like mostly acrylic yarn crocheted up in a granny-square style in the round. Some colors are more fuzzy than others, making me think there are blends of fibers in there, including some mohair around the edge.
Monday I went to the public library near my house to check out a copy of Jan Eaton's 200 Ripple Stitch Patterns and was highly entertained by the use and mixture of eyelash yarn, standard weight wool/acrylic, and variegated and metallic yarns. It seemed so tacky and outdated. But maybe it just depends on your color palette.
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Hat Detail[/caption]
These colors are very carefully mixed and ordered. The teal and pink are complimented by the black & white plied, shiny acrylic. For some reason, maybe because of magic, it doesn't look horrible here. Or maybe they were just very aware of the effect of eyelash yarn and made sure to stay away from it. Either way, the hat is adorable, kitschy, and still appealing. Modern, but not contemporary. And probably pretty easy to replicate with some stash yarn. The trick is, though, to pick colors that create a pleasing palette, and that involves using at least one true contrasting color in the midst of your palette. You'll notice here that purple, pink, red, and white (and black) create a nice gradient palette, but the teal provides the necessary contrast to appreciate the palette and make it not look like it was crocheted for a five year old. Color theory is a wonderful thing.
Example: the Sweet Retreat Hat now available on Modcloth.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="350"]
Sweet Retreat Hat[/caption]In the eyes of a crocheter, this looks like the perfect scrap yarn project. It looks like mostly acrylic yarn crocheted up in a granny-square style in the round. Some colors are more fuzzy than others, making me think there are blends of fibers in there, including some mohair around the edge.
Monday I went to the public library near my house to check out a copy of Jan Eaton's 200 Ripple Stitch Patterns and was highly entertained by the use and mixture of eyelash yarn, standard weight wool/acrylic, and variegated and metallic yarns. It seemed so tacky and outdated. But maybe it just depends on your color palette.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="511"]
Hat Detail[/caption]These colors are very carefully mixed and ordered. The teal and pink are complimented by the black & white plied, shiny acrylic. For some reason, maybe because of magic, it doesn't look horrible here. Or maybe they were just very aware of the effect of eyelash yarn and made sure to stay away from it. Either way, the hat is adorable, kitschy, and still appealing. Modern, but not contemporary. And probably pretty easy to replicate with some stash yarn. The trick is, though, to pick colors that create a pleasing palette, and that involves using at least one true contrasting color in the midst of your palette. You'll notice here that purple, pink, red, and white (and black) create a nice gradient palette, but the teal provides the necessary contrast to appreciate the palette and make it not look like it was crocheted for a five year old. Color theory is a wonderful thing.
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