I've had a love for M. C. Escher's work ever since I saw a gallery display when I was in junior high. The mathematics combined so uniquely to produce his art has always intrigued me. After seeing Carol Ventura's "For the Birds" tapestry crochet purse, I had to create my own M. C. Escher-inspired design.

Unfortunately I can't find any history about this Escher design, other than it being displayed in the gallery on http://www.mcescher.com/. Escher's work in symmetry has always captured my interest and I have long wanted to try my hand at converting a design into a project of my own.

This purse is made using the tapestry crochet technique. Carol Ventura has done a stellar job of describing this technique in her books “Tapestry Crochet” and “More Tapestry Crochet”. She gives you all the tools you need to design your own creations. If you don't have a copy of the book, her website, tapestrycrochet.com ,will get you started.

The body of this purse is crocheted in the round and the handles are made flat. The handles are reinforced with a thick piece of plastic between the layers of fabric to give it structure. I used a flexible cutting board. The pattern is made across 116 stitches so that there is no visible “seam” between rows. You can adjust the pattern to be tube-shaped, change the height of the pattern, multiply the width, and change the handle.

MC Escher's Horses Print

My version of Escher's Horses as a tapestry crochet chart

• [Ravelry Link]
• Finished Size:
  • Outer measurements: 9 1/4" wide x 9 1/4" high x 1/2" thick
  • Inner measurements: 9" wide by 6 1/2" high x 1/2" thick
• Materials:
  • 3 contrasting worsted weight yarns: I used 3 balls leftover from my stash: 1 skein cascade 220 in orange, 1/2 skein Araucania Nature Wool in green, 1/2 skein Patons Classic Merino in royal blue.
  • Size F crochet hook
  • tapestry needle
  • 1 flexible plastic cutting board
  • square ruler
  • permanent marker
  • scissors
• Glossary:
  • ch: chain stitch
  • sl: slip stitch
  • tc: tapestry single crochet stitch
  • sts: stitches
  • dc: double crochet stitch
• Pattern:
  • This pattern is worked in the round as a spiral.
  • Round 0: Using with the orange yarn, make a slip knot, leaving a 10 inch tail. ch 56 sts. Starting with the 2nd chain and carrying the other two colored yarns along, 54 sc, 4 sc into the last chain (total 59 sts). Continue to sc along the bottom of the original chain until last chain. 3 sc into the last chain (total 116). Mark beginning of round with stitch marker.
  • Round 1-36: [Download the Escher's Horses Chart (pdf)] Begin color work according to chart, starting at stitch 1, row 1 (in the lower right corner) Handle prep row: Due to the nature of tapestry crochet, the “start” of the row will have wrapped around to the back of the bag, add enough sc's in color pattern to bring you to the edge of the bag (about 6 sts).
  • 1st handle:
  • the handle is made with a mesh backing which will be sewn over a thick plastic sheet to strengthen the handle.
  • Row 1: with orange yarn and carrying one strand of other yarn (to give thickness to the stitch), sl 2, sc 54, turn.
  • Row 2-3: sc across, turn.
  • Row 4 (left): (split for left side of handle) ch 1, sc 15, turn.
  • Row 5-10 (left): ch1, sc across, turn.
  • Row 11 (left): ch1, sc across, draw yarn through loop, cut yarn.
  • Row 4 (right): starting at right edge handle, ch1, sc 15, turn.
  • Row 5-11 (right): ch1, sc across, turn.
  • Row 12: (rejoin handle) ch 1, sc 15, ch24, sc 15, turn.
  • Row 13-16: ch1, sc across.
  • Row 17: (begin mesh) ch2, * dc in front loop, ch1, skip next sc, repeat from * across, turn.
  • Row 18: ch2, * dc, ch 1, skip ch, repeat from * across, turn.
  • Row 19-22 (left): (split for left side of handle) ch2, *dc, ch1, skip ch, repeat from * 6 times, turn
  • Row 23 (left): repeat row 22, draw yarn through loop, cut yarn.
  • Row 19 (right): ch into right side of mesh handle. ch2, *dc, ch1, skip ch, repeat from * 6 times, turn.
  • Row 20-22 ( right): repeat row 22, draw yarn through loop, cut yarn.
  • 2nd handle:
  • Make as for 1st handle, joining yarn so that the handle is centered on the bag and lines up with the 1st handle.
• Finishing:
  • Block the bag, so you smooth out any uneven spots. Lay the plastic cutting sheet over the tapestry crocheted half of the handle and mark out the edge of the plastic handle. The handle should be about 1/8” to 1/4” smaller than the crocheted handle. The measurements used for my handle are given below.
  • Cut out both handles out of the plastic. Bevel each of the corners of the handle so that there are now sharp edges that could eventually cut through the yarn.
  • With a tapestry needle sew the mesh cover over the plastic handle, attaching it to the tapestry crochet handle.

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Posted by Jessica on June 4, 2009 11:18:00 PM EDT #

I've gotten involved in a variety of yarn swaps on Ravelry. For those unfamiliar, a swap is an on-your-honor trade among a group of people. A limit is set for how much your box should be worth as well as a few items that must be included in the box. Each swap usually has a theme, too: tea, earth day, journalimg, etc.

For the yoga swap I did late last year, the rules said you needed to include one hand made item, and something in the package must contain an "ohm" symbol. After a bit of research, I found that my swap partner collected sheep. I remembered a pattern I had picked up at the Black Sheep Wool Company in Salt Lake City. It was a perfect fit.

• Pattern: Petite Sheep by Melanie Elizondo, a $4 handout available at Black Sheep Wool Company
• Matrials:
  • 1/2 ball of Plymouth Yarn Royal Bamboo in white
  • 1/4 ball (or less) of Plymouth Yarn Royal Bamboo in brown
  • one set of size 3 double pointed needles
  • tapestry needle
  • two U-bolts for legs
  • polyfil stuffing
• Modifications:
  • added a needle point "ohm" symbol to the belly
  • If I make this again, I'll not bind off the belly until after I've added the legs, that way I don't have to pick up stitches and it will produce a smoother transition from body to leg
• Ravelry Link

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Posted by Jessica on May 21, 2009 7:14:00 AM EDT #

Last month Amiya and I ran the Sandy Sprint 5k organized by the Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation. For the third year in a row, Sam was the first Ovarian Cancer survivor to cross the finish line! I didn't finish nearly as fast, but I'm happy to say I ran the majority of the race, and thanks in part to my snazzy new Garmin Forerunner 405 I'm running in the mornings so that I may be able to run (most of) an 8k in a couple weeks.

Sam, Collen, Amiya and I after the Sandy Sprint 5k

Responses[1]

Posted by Jessica on May 19, 2009 10:48:00 PM EDT #

I've completed a bunch of projects but completely failed to write them up. Luckily I have most of the specifics on Ravelry. So here is entry number one on catching up with my "Finished Objects."

Last July while on our Alaskan cruise for my dad's birthday, I found a nice little yarn shop in Juneau called "Skeins". The owner was quite helpful, had a great selection of well organized yarn, and a very relaxed dog that hung out at the shop. Even though I'd promised my husband I wouldn't buy any yarn until I used up some of my stash, I made an exception for myself because this was for his mom. He couldn't get mad at me for that, right?? I chose a DK weight yarn (Rowan RYC Cashsoft DK) instead of a worsted weight yarn like the pattern called for in order to make it lighter. Hopefully its not too warm for her to wear at home in Trinidad.

The goal was to finish the capelet during our visit to Toronto while visiting my in-laws. Unfortunately my timing was a little off, and I finished knitting the third medallion on our drive home from Toronto. I didn't finish assembling the capelet and adding the collar until a few days later.

The pattern itself is very easy to follow, quick to knit and easy to memorize. The Rowan Cashsoft yarn was great to knit with. I'd use it again, but many of the patterns I find myself making don't call for a DK weight yarn.

• Pattern: Medallion Capelet by Nicky Epstein from Vogue Knitting, Winter 2007/08
• Materials:
  • 4 1/2 balls of Rowan RYC Cashsoft DK in Dark Red (SH 521)
  • size 8 circular needles
  • size 8 double pointed needles
  • tapestry needle
  • safety pins
• Modifications: I made this out of a DK weight yarn instead of the worsted weight that the pattern called for. Because of the smaller gauge, I did 26 repeats of the pattern on a size 8 needle (instead of 22 repeats on a size 10.5).
• [Ravelry Link]

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Posted by Jessica on May 18, 2009 8:21:00 PM EDT #

I would love to learn how to spin yarn, I just don't have the time to dedicate to another hobby. But making yarn out of plastic bags (plarn) and yarn out of t-shirts is something I can easily do, and I'm re-using stuff around my house that I'd normally be throwing away (or recycling or donating).

Each ball took about 20 minutes to make, give or take. And I'm really happy with the result. I used the technique described by this Continuous strand tee shirt yarn Tutorial, making each cut about 3/4 inch wide. Using two XL tshirts, each ball weighs about 110 grams and is about 48 yards long.

This yarn was created as a gift for someone. It's a very bulky-weight yarn, I'm not quite sure what I'd make with it, or what I will make with it once I cut some of my own... The "Got T-shirt Yarn?" group on Ravelry has a thread with ideas of What to make with t-shirt yarn ranging in ideas from baskets, to rugs, to pot holders, to sandals. I think the yarn is to thick to make into a shirt or sweater, but possibly a skirt?

From KnittingAndCrochet

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Posted by Jessica on April 8, 2009 12:30:00 PM EDT #

Airlines charge for every extra piece of luggage and every extra pound of weight. Packing becomes even more of a challenge when you have a toddler. As we were preparing for our trip to Trinidad, I tried to find solutions for a light-weight crib that we could bring with us and I found the perfect thing: The Kidco Peapod Plus.

Kidco sells two sizes (Peapod, or Peapod Plus) with a variety of colors (pink, lime green, red, teal, cammo). We opted for the larger sized Peapod Plus in red. It was worth the extra $20 so that hopefully she'll be able to use it for a few more years, and the darker color helps to block out a bit more light than the lighter fabrics.

A week and a half before our trip, we started putting Amiya to sleep inside the tent, that we'd placed inside her crib. That way she was still in her crib, like she was used to, but she was inside the tent as well. She played with the tent for the first few minutes of her naps, but she quickly went to sleep. A week later in Trinidad, she was still sleeping in her tent, just like at home, it just happened to be in a different room. It worked out beautifully.

The Peapod Plus measures 52.5"L x 34"W x 25"H when open and 19"L x 19"H x 6.5"W when stored. It comes with a blow-up mattress, manual air pump, sleeping pad and carrying case.

A couple tips:

• Some people complain that its difficult to store, but if you read through the directions once or twice you'll get it. Also, Kidco has a photo-tutorial on how to do it if you can't quite figure it out.
• I recommend leaving at least 2 of the window flaps open so a cross-breeze can get into the tent, otherwise, just like an adult-sized tent, it can get stuffy inside.
• Instead of putting the blow-up mattress into the under-side zippered pocket, I covered it with a standard crib sheet and put it inside the tent. A nice flannel sheet is nicer against your skin than a nylon lining.
• If you don't pack the included sleeping bag, you'll save a couple inches on space.

I absolutely LOVE this tent. It's going to be great to use over the next couple years as we go to visit family.

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Posted by Jessica on January 23, 2009 9:09:00 AM EST #