Year of Projects: Crochet Master Class – Year one finale in Bruges lace
(This post is part of my Year of Projects: Crochet Master Class
I am having great fun with Bruges lace, which I’m learning from the master herself, Tatyana Mirer, in a three-week class at Knit-A-Way. I’m the only person in the class at the moment, and it is a fabulous experience to spend the time with such an amazing teacher and designer. Last week, I mentioned that I had bought a skein of Lamb’s Pride Worsted at the shop for the class, and it was more or less a disaster. The yarn is actually quite nice, but it is really just not a good fit with Bruges lace swatches!
My Bruges lace square in Victorian Pink (which looked lavender to me when I bought it).
After the first class, I decided to use some Galler Yarns Parisian Cotton that I have on hand from some designs I have done for them. I don’t use crochet cotton thread that often, but it is absolutely perfect for Bruges lace. It was also just about the only yarn I cared to touch during the two days last week which were well over 95 degrees and extremely humid!
I should mention that I haven’t blocked any of these swatches.
A Bruges lace circle.
A Bruges lace curve.
A Bruges lace oval. I had a lot of fun with this one.
The first part of a Bruges lace wave.
A Bruges lace square in progress. I lost my trusty 00 crochet hook on the subway shortly thereafter 
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My favorite technique was adding an insert to the Bruges lace square. I see a lot of interesting possibilities for granny squares.
Bruges lace motifs are join-as-you-go, so I could avoid at least some of the yarn ends...
On Thursday, I’ll have the last class. Tatyana will be showing me some tubular techniques, and I’ll also be starting the Sparkling Wave Scarf from The Complete Photo Guide to Crochet
I’m surprised that it has been almost a year since I joined in on the Year of Projects through the Come Blog-A-long group on Ravelry. Even though I had been planning to work my way through Crochet Master Class: Lessons and Projects from Today’s Top Crocheters
This year, I had a chance to try out many techniques from Crochet Master Class that I had never used before, like hairpin lace, single crochet entrelac, painted crochet, freeform, and Bruges lace. I experimented a lot more with techniques I had used before, like woven crochet, Tunisian crochet, filet crochet, double-ended crochet, Irish crochet, and the bullion stitch. I so wanted to be like Minding My Own Stitches, a YOP blogger who faithfully completed every project in one book. Alas, I found that I wasn’t inspired to work with some of the techniques from the book. And there are other techniques that I didn’t cover that I definitely want to return to, like overlay crochet and tapestry crochet.
I’m very grateful to harleagh from When Did I Become a Knitter for hatching up the idea of blogging through a book, and, of course, to Rita Weiss and the late Jean Leinhauser for compiling a collection that really inspired me to push myself creatively and to further develop my crochet techniques. I look forward to more exploration in the next year!
I’ve been following along with you and a few others who’ve been participating in YOP and have been inspired to join in for the new year. I know that I would never make it all the way through a book, but I’m considering using one as my guide. Crochet Master is Class is on my list. Would you recommended it? Are there other titles (I know you have a big library!) that I should consider? I’d love to hear what you think. You seemed to have learned a lot this year and I enjoy reading about your new experiences! Nicely done.
Crochet Master Class is awesome, Robin! I just used the techniques from the book and I didn’t actually make any of the patterns from the book. If you are interested in garments, Custom Crocheted Sweaters by Dora Ohrenstein is a great option. There are tons of great books for motifs, if that’s something you might be interested in. Some of my recent favorites are Beyond the Square by Edie Eckman, and The Go Crochet Afghan Design Workbook, and The Granny Square Book by Margaret Hubert.
Marie-
Thanks for the help. I’m requesting a copy of Master Class from the library to check it out. I just purchased Custom Crocheted Sweaters a few weeks ago it has so much great information about garment construction! I have 5 or 6 other titles I’m taking a look at (Beyond the Square is one!). I like that you chose to learn techniques and think I may be leaning that way too – I don’t think I want to commit to that many projects!
Thanks again! – Robin
I really love your lace and I love the look of the granny square with the colour, what possibilites it opens up!.
I’ve really enjoyed visiting your blog through YOP and I’m looking forward to another year and seeing your list. I love how each of us made our lists differently and how we accomplished them and I love the stories behind it all most of all.
Thanks, Ruth! I’m looking forward to learning more in the next year and seeing what everyone else is doing, too.
You did so many cool and interesting new things that you shouldn’t apologize for opting out of some of the chapters. I love the look of that Bruges Wave – I could see all sorts of interesting edgings coming out of that. And you’re right about granny square options with that insert in the Bruges square.
You know, I learned basic crochet in Home Economics so many years ago in school, but I am still amazed by the variety and complexity of techniques to learn and try. Your posts over the last year have been very informative and quite inspiring. I’ll definitely be logging in to see what you do next year!
Aww, that’s nice, Minding My Own Stitches! It was great to watch everyone’s growth during the year!
your lovely blog has inspired me to brush up on my crochet skills can’t wait to see what you do next year.
Thanks, misty!
Very unusual looking, I think I could see a lacy no need for warmth type shawl from some of this super open lace. Do you have plans for your practice pieces? Hook them all together and add to it? For a shawl?
That’s a great idea, Sandy. I actually had no plans for my practice pieces, but you may inspire me to do something with them.
i’d like have some free patterns to make crochet doilies of bruges