OK, I may have been called fussy detail-oriented (only a couple of hundred times), but one can never be overly perfectionist with handmade clothing. There is no cutting corners when it comes to making sure that there are no hanging yarn tails or unsightly seams, and that the wrong side looks just as neat as the right side.
When I was making this vest (remember my sketch?), I knew exactly how I wanted it to be. I wanted it to be minimalistic in style, simple in shape, easy and reasonably quick to make, but, most importantly, I did not want it to look homemade.
The last criterion is a biggy, and one I apply to anything I crochet, particularly to clothing, as I will not wear anything that screams “I have got a new hobby”. Call me weird, but I would much rather surprise people that the object they just complimented has been made by hand rather than get a raised eyebrow and a question “Did you make it yourself?”.*
Attention to detail is one of the things that elevates a crochet project from “homemade” to “handmade”.
This vest is one of the least intricate things I have ever crocheted. Straight, no shaping other than the neckline and the shoulders, DK yarn, a single crochet body – an ultimate easy-peasy garment. However, when you take a closer look, you will notice that I have taken my time to figure out the best way to start a turtleneck collar so the ribbing grows from a perfect line of V’s:
That the shoulders are joined with a textured seam, which pulls in the stepped shoulder shaping decreases into a straight neat line (crocheted as-you-go, no needle-seaming!):
That the armholes are decorated with the crab stitch which compliments the texture of the ribbing and the shoulder seams:
If something is going to make its way into my handmade wardrobe, it better look as perfect as it can be!
* A question like this from a fellow crocheter is taken as a compliment, because, obviously, birds of a feather know handmade crochet when they see it!
How fussy are YOU about your seams and edgings?
I have shared this blog post a lovely and cute crochet blog by Annemarie Benthem.
Wow! That is indeed an very interesting question and one I had never actually asked myself in those terms. While I must admit, looking back on my crochet history, there were times when homemade was definitely a qualification that may have been chosen for what I made, I usually get a rather gratifying look of “no, you didn’t make this yourself?!”
However, my crochet skills alone cannot account for such incredulity: it first and foremost stems from the fact that I have the choice of picking the patterns which will enable me to show what I am capable of making, as well as selecting the quality of the yarn I use.
I think being detail-orientated as a designer, far from being a flaw, is in fact an additional and professional skill which should be highlighted and celebrated! 🙂 As a crocheter, I certainly appreciate that you are so careful with detail. 🙂
Thank you for such a detailed reply! (pun intended! 🙂 ) I know your yarn choice is always brilliant!
There are definitely a number of things that ensure you create a piece you can wear with pride, and we will continue exploring those!
You’re very welcome. It is such an interesting subject (as always!) 🙂