Wednesday, August 01, 2007

Sizzlin' Freeform

While in New Hampshire gittin' my crochet (and knit) on, I decided to take a freeform knitting class. Actually, I decided to take the class at the time of registration, months before the actual onset of the conference.

This decision deserves a little background. Now, if you haven't figured this out about my work yet dear readers, the stuff I conjure up is not exactly freeform-friendly. Okay, yes, it's free in conceptual form, but when it comes to the actual execution of the work, my crazy junk is anything but freeform. First and foremost, I write EVERYTHING down. I mean this when I say it. Every. Single. Detail. Is documented. I also regularly use Excel to mock up virtual garments and to model my garment measurement specifications before I knit or crochet anything. Oh, and I always, ALWAYS swatch.

So yeah, freeform? Ah, no.

Also, before I go any further I must also disclose the fact that I'm generally not a big fan of the projects I've seen produced by using freeform techniques, although I do like her work quite a bit. However, much of what I see just doesn't appeal to my aesthetic. If it's your thing though, I heartily encourage you to continue scrumbling away. Passion is a very individual thing after all.

So, despite my freaky control issues and my "ordered" aesthetic, I also happen to be a big process junkie, another factoid I repeat endlessly on this here green bloggidy, blog, blog. Process junkie girl, devious to the core, decided to give my inner anal retentive designer the slip, throw caution to the wind and signed me up for Colleen Davis' Embellishments class at the Knit and Crochet Show.

Armed with loads of leftover yarn or just stuff I bought while apparently suffering from a distinct loss of good taste (yes, we all know taste is a VERY relative thing with me) and my beloved Denise needles (really, I love these...use them constantly) I was prepared to freeform away! Seriously, upon stepping foot into the classroom I was scrumbling with Ms. Davis at a pace that made my head spin.

Within an hour and some change I had completed a hairy flower...



A hairy planet-like thingamabob...



A hairy rainbow...



And a purty green leaf edged in crocheted crab stitch (love that)...



I had fun!

Okay, I wouldn't dare use any of the hairy motifs I made for anything other than fond reflections of a scrumbling experience well done, but I did come away from the class with a distinct feeling that I would eventually break free of my anal retentive fundamentals and work plan-free.

Enter, LadyLinoleum's version of freeform...


That 70's Bacon

Yep, that'd be freeform pork strip-age!

Freeform pork strip-age crocheted using a teeny tiny little hook and beautifully shiny DMC perle cotton thread.


Mmmmm...Microwave Bacon

By Joe I think she's got it!


Barbie Dream House Breakfast Strip

No pattern.


SizzleLean

No real plan.


SizzleLean: The Sequel

And no publishing deadline!

Wooo Hoo!

Just you wait and see what I'll be scrumbling next...

22 comments:

Crafty Andy said...

Congratulations on your Knitscene totally Hot Tote Bag. GREAT JOB!

Tifffany said...

hahaha that is some lovely bacon :)

Sus said...

Yay! Free-form bacon! Just for fun! They're all just quite spiffy! I really like the pink one -- makes me want to call it Hello Bacon. Tee hee!

Anonymous said...

Words cannot convey how much I love you. Now EVERYTHING is better with bacon.

SAM said...

Love that bacon! Freeform can be liberating - it can also be ugly. Glad you had a good experience.

shula said...

LL, you're not a capricorn, by any chance.

We do so love our written instructions.

Anonymous said...

You are my hero. God golly! Free form bacon... what could be better?

Batty said...

That's some freakin' real-looking bacon. Now I'm hungry.

noricum said...

Great bacon!

Carol said...

Pork fat rules! I can not wait to see what you conjure up Lady!

dizzy von damn! said...

what size are those bacons?

because those would make a cute skirt, is all i'm saying.

Madge said...

Once again I bow to the beauty of your meat products. Scrumbling fills me with horror - the ugliness of most of it is worse than underwear at a thrift store - but your reinterpretation of it fills me with joy.

Amen, sister.

FinnyKnits said...

I have clearly not been keeping up. Shame, shame.

I opened my Craft: magazine yesterday and saw The Famous Bacon Wrap.

How cool ARE you anyway?? Geez man. Right there in my fave new rag is Ms Regina's fabulous crocheted bacon wrap!

Seriously. You're rad. Congrats on another successful publishing.

Ellen Bloom said...

OK, freeform bacon looks much easier than that incredible chart I got from you! I'm going to print photos of all of your bacon and try to make one for myself. What size did you make the freeform bacons?

mama k said...

omg
luv that bacon!

I've never tried free-form.. It always looked so. ugly.
to each his own though!

Amy said...

Laughing hysterically at all the variations of bacon. I love that's it's curling a little on the edges, just like the real thing.


Hmmm......bacon.

Anonymous said...

Let me just say I share your thoughts on freeform. I say this while looking over my shoulder waiting for the 2 ton black Acme piano to come crashing over my shoulders. And I'm EXACTLY like you: I write everything down.

I'm inspired by the fact that you chose to take the class despite your hang-ups. What you accomplished I could see having long-lasting effects on your work. I like how you applied what you learned to fit *your style*, your aesthetic.

And shoot, that's some pretty cool looking meat there Lady!

Micky said...

Love the bacon!
:)

DixieRedHead said...

those are so cool! I've never attempted freeform. u did a great job! AND i heart bacon even more now!

Miranda said...

Holy crap I laughed so hard, the bacon is so funny. Oo, I got my Snake scarf kit the other day I finally got to start it today.. Yippee..Thanks for that. I never would have know something SO cool was out there!

Marnie said...

*drool* That bacon looks so good. Pretty darn spot on.

Megalion said...

Wow I'm learning so much from you! I agree that I'm not really crazy about some scrumbling efforts but some of the stuff by Prudence Mapstone is amazing!

The Jolly Roger project is going... started on the smallest piece first and think I got the hang of it. I don't know what the proper way is to color change between sc stitches but I figured out a way that I like and works to keep color from bleeding into each other when not supposed to (ie that final pull through that ends up inside the next stitch).

Hard to be at work cause I want to be home playing with yarn!