Frameable Non-Crochet Non-Knit Project Challenge

October 26, 2013 by ·

Frameable Non-Crochet and Non-Knit Yarn Project Challenge

Our local knit and crochet group came up with another quirky challenge. Here’s a list of the criteria:

  1. No knitting or crochet could be used in the project.
  2. It had to be frameable.
  3. It had to be between 8×10 and 11×14 inches in size.
  4. It had to be 25% yarn or more.

Two people were up for the challenge and two people were up for the judging. Interestingly enough, each judge favored a different project…so in the end, it was a tie for first place.

bamboo

Bamboo Plastic Canvas Project

This mixed media piece was inspired by the panda bear, a native species in China. The black and white background is made of yarn stitched on the diagonal over plastic canvas. The bamboo is created with scrapbook paper. The Chinese characters is the word “Bamboo”, which is the common diet for panda bears.

Yarn: Vanna’s Choice Black and White

Measures: 11″ x 14″

This project was designed by Deborah, who also designed the free panda baby hats.

Starry Night – Fauxchet Hook Rug

starry-night-hook-rug

This hook rug project was created with a fauxchet tool and a variety of medium and bulky weight yarns. The image was drawn onto canvas with a marker, then hooked right from the skeins of yarn. The cut loops and the color and texture of the yarns simulate the impressionist style of the original painting.

This frameable piece would require the use of a 3D frame, though the judges thought the softness of the piece would make it better suited as a pillow.

Supercoloring.com has a free coloring page of Starry Night which was used as the template for this project.

Yarn: Lion Brand: Vanna’s Choice and Homespun

Measure: 8″ x 11″

This project was designed by Dana who also designed other free fauxchet patterns.

Filed Under: Challenges & Contests, Fauxchet, Plastic Canvas · Tagged With: , , ,

Skull Pattern for Fauxchet Hook Rugging

August 23, 2013 by ·

Skull Pattern for Fauxchet Hook Rugging

skull patternThis skull pattern was our first attempt to hook rug with the easyloop fauxchet tool.

We haven’t hook rugged for years….maybe even decades (that makes us sound old)! But it brings back fond memories of craft times with our mom and special pillows she made for us.

Skull Pattern

This skull and cross bone image we charted for this pattern would make a fun “keep out” sign for a child’s door or a fun pillow for his or her room. We considered creating a rug for a high traffic area.

Supplies:

  • Easyloop fauxchet tool
  • Latch Rug Canvas
  • Yarn – 2 skeins
    (Pictured: Red Heart Super Saver – Light Raspberry, Tea Leaf)
  • Marker
  • Skull Chart

back of hook rugInstructions:

  1. Referring to the skull chart, color all the “BL” bars with a marker. You now have two tones drawn out on your canvas.
  2. Select your yarn color and start hooking! If you are using the easyloop tool, start at the top left corner (for right handed). With traditional hook rugging, you’ll start at the bottom.
  3. Optional: cut loops and trim to desired length.

NOTE: If using the larger mesh and worsted weight yarn, try double stranded hooking with the easyloop tool to create a fuller rug.

Our Thoughts on Hook Rugging with the easyloop tool

Hook rugging is super easy with the easyloop tool. Since the technique uses a skein of yarn instead of individually cut lengths of yarn, hook rugging goes a lot faster! I love crafting…but I’m all about finishing projects quickly so I can start the next one!

fauxchet promo videoThe technique is very similar to fauxchet, but instead of going through loops, you are fauxcheting around the bar in the canvas.

This fauxchet video will show you the basic use of the fauxchet tool. And when you purchase the tool, there are instructions and videos for hook rugging.

Pros of hook rugging with the easyloop tool

  • Easy to learn
  • Fast
  • Less mess with using skeins instead of cut yarn
  • Creates loops instead of cut ends
  • More color choices available since skeins are used instead of cut yarn
  • Can create a mix of loops and cut yarn as desired

Cons of hook rugging with the easyloop tool

  • Creates loops instead of cut ends
  • Can knot up if tool is wrapped around bar wrong
  • Challenging to create loops of consistent sizes

I’m already dreaming about my next hook rug project. I’m definitely going to be using the easyloop tool. If you love to hook rug, you’ve got to try this tool!

More Fauxchet

To learn more about the easyloop tool, visit fauxchet.com.

Read our initial product review of the easyloop fauxchet tool.

Check out our FREE Fauxchet Patterns.

Filed Under: Fauxchet, Latch Hook Rug, Patterns for FREE · Tagged With: , ,

Dishie Fauxchet Patterns

August 21, 2013 by ·

Dishie Fauxchet Patterns

Dish clothes are great projects for learning how to Fauxchet. In fact, these were some of the first projects we made.

fauxchet dishies

As we mentioned in our product review of the easyloop fauxchet tool, any pattern that uses a chain, slip stitch or single crochet can be made with the easyloop tool. The patterns below will list the abbreviation for both crochet and fauxchet.

dishie on sink

The dishies in these fauxchet patterns measure approximately 6”x6”. We love the smaller size for getting into cups and such.

Skill Level: Easy

Stitches Used: Chain (ch), slip stitch (sl st), single fauxchet (sf), single crochet (sc)

Techniques Used: fauxchet/crochet in rows, fauxceht/crochet in the round

FAUXCHET PATTERN 1: V-Stitch Dishie

The v-stitch is widely used in crochet…and is easy to fauxchet as well.

v-stitch dishie

Materials List:

  • Easyloop fauxchet tool (or Crochet Hook: H/8/5.00mm)
  • Lily Sugar’n Cream worsted weight (4) cotton
    HOT PURPLE
  • Yarn Needle for sewing

V-Stitch Dishie Fauxchet Pattern

Ch 17

Row 1: In 3rd ch from tool work *sf(sc), ch 1, sf(sc), skip 2 ch* across.

Row 2-17: Ch 2, turn. *In ch-1 sp work sf(sc), ch 1, sf(sc), skip 2 sts* across.

Rnd 18: Sf(sc) around all four sides of dishie. Join with sl st. Weave in ends.

FAUXCHET PATTERN 2: Mini Blocks Dishie

Another popular crochet pattern is mini blocks. Again, an excellent project for learning the easyloop fauxchet tool.

mini blocks dishie

Materials List:

  • Easyloop fauxchet tool (or Crochet Hook: H/8/5.00mm)
  • Lily Sugar’n Cream worsted weight (4) cotton
    LAVENDER
  • Yarn Needle for sewing

Mini Blocks Dishie Fauxchet Pattern

Ch 23

Row 1: Sf(sc) in 6th ch from tool, sf(sc) *ch 2, skip 2 ch, 2 sf(sc)* across. End with ch 2, skip 2 ch, 1 sf(sc).

Row 2: Ch 1, turn. *2 sf(sc) on ch-2 sp, ch 2, skip 2 sts* across. End with 2 sf(sc).

Row 3: Ch 3. *Skip 2 sts, 2 sf(sc), ch 2* across. End with skip 2 sts, 1 sf(sc).

Rows 4-18: Repeat Rows 2 & 3 alternately.

Rnd 19: Sf(sc) around all four sides of dishie. Join with sl st. Weave in ends.

More Fauxchet

To learn more about the easyloop fauxchet tool, visit the fauxchet website.

PDF’s of our Free Fauxchet Patterns are available on the Free Fauxchet Patterns page.

Filed Under: Fauxchet, Kitchen, Patterns for FREE · Tagged With: , , ,

Product Review: easyloop Fauxchet Tool

August 11, 2013 by ·

Product Review: easyloop® Fauxchet® Tool

fauxchetThere’s a new fiber arts tool hitting the market. Did you see it highlighted in the Autumn 2013 Crochet! Magazine (page 8)? We did..and we were intrigued! We were given a couple of the new easyloop® fauxchet® tools to review…and here’s what we thought:

Fauxchet® is Easy to Learn

Fauxchet® is super easy to learn. My sister and I were Fauxcheting in minutes thanks to the detailed instruction booklet and videos! We showed several friends (knitters and crocheters) how the easyloop® tool works and they picked it up super quick too.

I’ve taught friends how to crochet, knit and Fauxchet® and I have to say, Fauxchet® is, by far, the easiest craft for people to learn.

fauxchet promo video

The Art of Fauxchet™ instruction booklet (free with purchase) is full of tips and tricks for mastering the easyloop® tool. There are a ton of photos with step-by-step instructions. The how-to videos are helpful for those who need to see it in action. You’ll be impressed with how easy it is to learn.

Practice Makes Perfect

Though Fauxchet® is easy to learn…it takes a bit of practice to master. That should be no surprise, since all fiber arts skills take time. Making each stitch consistent in size is the key to making a nice looking fabric and there are tips in the instructions booklet to help you learn how to do that.

fauxchet trivetWith a bit of practice, you’ll create “muscle memory”, which is a fancy way of saying your hands will learn to move smoothly and consistently as it makes each stitch. Don’t rush the process. We recommend that you make a couple of swatches before starting your first pattern. One of our first projects was a trivet. Another was a market bag.

What the easyloop® Fauxchet® Tool Does

As soon as we were comfortable using the easyloop®  tool, we were curious to learn as much as we could about everything it can do. Here’s what we learned:

It creates a loose drapey fabric which is a reflection of how the tool is to be used…with a relaxed grip so the yarn can glide through the tool smoothly and easily. I tend to crochet rather tightly, so it was a bit of a mind shift for me to relax and make what felt like large stitches.

Fauxchet® is similar to crochet in that you insert the tool through loops. With Fauxchet® you generally work across your work from left to right (if you’re right handed) which is opposite from how crochet is worked. However, depending on the project, it is possible to work in either direction. The fabric it can make looks similar to crochet and knitted stockinette (when turned sideways).

fauxchet swatches

Stitches you can make include: chain, slip stitch, single fauxchet® (comparable to single crochet) and the loop stitch.

Techniques you can do include: increase, decrease, work in rows and in the round, work in front, back or both loops.

Other things you can do include: hook rugging, beaded fauxchet®, edging your work, joining motifs, top stitching (comparable to crochet chain embroidery).

A lot of crochet patterns use these stitches and techniques, so it would be easy to convert them into a fauxchet® project! In fact, we did just that and will be sharing a couple of free fauxchet® patterns on our blog.

Pros and Cons for the easyloop® Tool

easyloop fauxchet toolHere’s what we like about the easyloop® tool:

  • easy to learn the basics
  • easy to learn the advanced techniques
  • easy to hold the tension yarn
  • easy to make edging
  • easy to add beads
  • economical to buy
  • great resources – instruction booklet and videos
  • relaxing to use
  • dropped stitches don’t unravel the work
  • no hook end to snag on stitches or yarn
  • easy to work with two strands of yarn at once

Here are a few limitations of the easyloop® tool:

  • doesn’t make tall stitches like double or treble crochet
  • dropped stitches create large loops in work
  • recommended for worsted or bulky weight yarn only
  • tool is stuck in middle of the skein if project is frogged (ripped out) part way or if you want to use a different tool (you must cut your yarn to get your tool out of the skein)
  • if you pull on the wrong side of the yarn the tool gets stuck (easier to understand when you are first learning)

As you can see, the pros out weigh the cons.

If you like playing with new tools and gadgets…you should try this tool. If you’re a knitter who thinks crochet it too hard, you should try this tool. If you teach fiber arts classes or seminars, you should try this tool. If you are the type of person who frequently switches between projects (be it knitting, crocheting or loom knitting) than you should try this tool. In short, if you’re a Yarnivore like us, you’ll want to see  for yourself what the  easyloop® tool can do.

Learn More About Fauxchet®

easyloop fauxchet toolThe easyloop® Fauxchet® tool retails for only $9.99 and will come with an instruction booklet (starting August 19) and access to The Art of Fauxchet™ instruction booklet as well as several how-to videos.

Visit the Fauxchet website to learn more.

Look for the tool at your local yarn shop.

Filed Under: Fauxchet · Tagged With: , ,