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Least Favorite Projects from the year of Victorian Patterns

12/28/2024

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It's time for the worst projects from 2024. Here are the eight projects that were given a score of 3.0 or below (out of 5.0).

Two projects had a score of 3.0; The Gentleperson's cap and Gentleman's mittens.

The cap was the first project I made for this year and it would have come in higher if there had been a photo. I ended up rewriting the pattern and making a second version in gray and white. It's not really a bad project just more confusing than most.
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These mittens were a little weird but somehow got a decent score. It's mostly because I kind of enjoyed the odd directions and thumb placement.
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Two patterns received a score of 2.75. The Harlequin Ball that I made out of worsted weight instead of fingering weight had a really interesting construction for a ball. The crochet button was more like a small motif than a button.
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The Harold Bootie came in at 2.5. I liked the Point Muscovite Stitch but the rest of the bootie was a struggle partially because of the yarn I used with the star stitch.
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The Crochet Medallion got a pretty low score but I ended up adjusting it enough that it got a ribbon at the county fair.
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The last two patterns are the Wool Dahlia (1.5) and the unscored stitch pattern group from March. The Wool Dahlia had confusing directions which led to it's low score.
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The Rice Stitch and the Beehive pattern turned out ok but I couldn't get the Lewis Point Stitch to look like their illustration.
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Rice Stitch
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Lewis Point Stitch
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Beehive Pattern

That's the end of the year of Victorian patterns. Did you have a favorite?
I'll start 2025 with the year 1911 and hopefully get into the mid 1940s by the end of the year.

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Favorites from the year of Victorian patterns

12/21/2024

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I made twenty Victorian era projects over the last year. The average score was 3.03 out of 4. Not too bad for patterns written in a different style. Twelve patterns came in above that average.
Here they are from best (4.0) to pretty good (3.25).



There were three patterns that got a score of 4.0.
The Jar for Pence, the Red and White Square and the Crazy Stitch.
The Jar for Pence sits on my desk with random coins in it. I haven't done anything with the Crazy Stitch yet but I loved the texture it created. I think the Red and White Square ended up being given away.
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Six patterns had a score of 3.5. The Square in Rib and Shell Pattern, the Polo Edging, the Baby's Crochet Hat, the Josephine Stitch (the only Tunsian project), a Quilt Square and the Three Ring Edging. I like how both of the squares turned out but I really enjoyed doing the Josephine Stitch. The squares are being used like a doily and a coaster and the hat was given away to family.
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​This Pretty Pattern for Odds and Ends got a score of 3.40 but it's one of my favorite finished projects. I love the color choices I made on this one but took off the edging.
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Two patterns came in at 3.25.  T​he Cloud and the Simple Spider Filet. The Cloud was really big but it ultimately found a home.
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Next week I'll share the eight below average patterns.
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1983 Christmas Special - Part Two

12/14/2024

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I'm back with part two, the weirder part. Let's start with these Candle Coverups. They are not intended to cover up candles; instead they are covering up and decorating hair spray and toilet paper.
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Sticking with the cover up theme; you should really hide that powder box and it has to be with this princess doll. Does the trim look like a bandolier to you? Maybe its not make-up powder she's hiding.
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Santa is covering up toilet paper with a tissue box. I guess you could get a Santa mask and hands at your local craft store or Benjamin Franklin's in the 80s. The hands look like AI made them.
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As long as we're talking about Santa, how about this cute little change purse. I think Santa's other form is an angry owl.
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​This stocking is a little confusing to me. Are the different stitch patterns supposed to give it a 3-D look or did they mean for the foot to look that way?
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Here are a few clothing items. The helmet isn't terrible - they note that it's also for girls in parentheses. The Pregnancy top purports to be a great gift for your pregnant friends. The pattern is made with two pieces that are exactly the same, so in theory it's reversible. I'm not sure how well that would actually fit.
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The Teddy Car Freshener looks a bit scary - I think it's the eyes.
The Doll Dress Potholders must be decorative because that bow is a fire risk.
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​And for the last one I leave you with Gnome Slippers. No copyright issues here! Gnome, Gnomette and Papa Gnome are made with blue worsted weight yarn.
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Would you make any of these?
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1983 Christmas Special - Part One

12/7/2024

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This two-part holiday special is brought to you by Women's Household Crochet's Christmas Special from 1983. I was paging through this and decided that it had to be shared. If you're looking for things to make the people who annoy you this will have a few options.

Before I dive into the 1983 weirdness, I want to show a few things in this magazine that I thought were cute and would make good gifts. There were the usual snowflakes and wreath ornaments and this three bell ornament that was lovely.
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​These two sweaters also involved knitting but they're cute and are still wearable today.
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This blouse is a little frilly in my opinion.
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The gumball machine is interesting. I don't think it actually works but still cute. The purse is nice and is probably pretty quick to work up.
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​Now we're getting a little weirder.  These call out Minnesota in the description and might have been good for ice skates or boots  that were a little too big. I think these might slip around and be more annoying that helpful.
photo of Tootsie Toasters. Described as Practical

​The title for this stocking says "Pretty Flowers in the Snow". I have to assume that there is a faint flower on that big dark patch. 
black and white photo of a christmas stocking with very square corners with a bow under what is likely a flower granny square but loses definition in black and white photography
These pot holders must be purely decorative. They don't say how big they are but the first one is only 5 rounds of worsted weight yarn. For the third, we only have their word that it's Rudolph. Because they used black and white for the photos, we can't see if his nose is red.
Black and white photo of three potholders. First is round with what is probably holly. The second looks like a book with two layers and a candle on the front. The third is a 3D version of what they claim is Rudolph but is probably only identifiable by the red nose which you can't see because this is black and white
Here is Red Riding Hood. It's not terrible, but something seems a little off. 
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Next week I'll share the really unusual patterns!
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    I'm from Minnesota and have been crocheting since 2003.  I inherited a box full of Workbasket Magazines from my mother-in-law and became obsessed with the vintage patterns.  

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