Earlier on this evening I took part in a question and answer session on Twitter. the focus of the chat was all to do with the CAL project and I had a busy hour or so answering questions and attempting to give a little more of an insight into the project.
Over the course of the last week Stylecraft put together a list of the most commonly asked questions regarding the Lily Pond project and this evening we answered them alongside the other questions that came in over the course of an hour.
Below you will find a list of the questions asked, my Twitter answers and a slightly more in depth answer for some of the questions, given that I don't have to limit my letters and spaces here on my blog!
If you want to see the discussion on Twitter search for #LilyPondCAL
@Jane Crowfoot
Between 6 & 7pm today you can take part in a Q&A session with me & @StylecraftYarn here on twitter. Use #LilyPondCAL to tweet or follow x
@StylecraftYarn
Tonight at 6pm we are having a questions and answers session with @JaneCrowfoot. Send your quetsions in using the Hashtag #LilyPondCAL
@StylecraftYarn
Welcome to our live Q&A session with @JaneCrowfoot Do you have any questions about our #LilyPondCAL?
Gail:
#LilyPondCAL thank you from all of us for making this, laughed when I realised the flowers were LAST..
@JaneCrowfoot
the lilies are not all made at the end. A little lily features in the patterns for next week and another one a fortnight later
Alicia:
I'm really curious which method will be used when it comes to putting it all together?
@JaneCrowfoot
I can give you a hint that it will be crocheted together rather than sewn! ;)
Alicia:
brilliant! Even better sewing is not my strong point :) thank you for answering loving the cal so far!
Hilary:
#LilyPondCAL There is a lot of confusion as to which is the right and wrong sides. Is there an easy way to tell?
@JaneCrowfoot
best way to tell is by looking at the remaining side of the foundation ch. RS you should see a little wave
Robyn:
good question Hilary! I was starting to get confused myself :-)
Additional Answer:
The foundation chain is not so clear on the back, but actually the easiest way to tell which is the front is to look at your yarn tail at the beginning of the foundation chain - if it is on the left then you have RS facing.
Image above is RS facing - notice the little wave running along the bottom?
@StylecraftYarn
Should I block before or after sewing ends in?
@JaneCrowfoot
I have posted the images above to give you an idea of how I sew my yarn ends in - these are not image of the CAL!
Julie:
When it comes to Lily motif do you do a chain loop or magic loop? #LilyPondCAL
@JaneCrowfoot
I write the patterns for ch to form a ring as this is what most people do, but you can choose to use magic loop #LilyPondCAL
Additional Answer:
You will find loads of tutorials for the magic loop on line and on Youtube. It is a way of making a tighter ring at the beginning so that you get less of a hole at the centre of your ring. I personally like the effect a larger hole gives you, but can understand why some people would want to achieve a smaller hole. The method is almost always used in Amigurumi (Japanese origin - crochet creatures/small animals)
Julie:
how long should each piece take to crochet roughly?
@JaneCrowfoot
depends on so many things, like how you feel & where you are. Block one may take a few hours but you will speed up
Additional Answer:
Please don't feel disheartened if you feel that others are working through this project faster than you are. The important thing is to enjoy it and get it right. Everyone crochets at a different speed, the same way that runners all run the Marathon in different times, except that this isn't a race and you don't have to leave your sofa!
@StylecraftYarn
Thank you too @JaneCrowfoot for answering all those great questions. More answers on Jane's blog and our web site tomorrow #LilyPondCAL
@JaneCrowfoot
Thank you too! I'm off to do a spot of crochet! #LilyPondCAL
Barbara:
@JaneCrowfoot @StylecraftYarn must be a #LilyPondCAL for lots tonight good way to unwind after a day at work
Over the course of the last week Stylecraft put together a list of the most commonly asked questions regarding the Lily Pond project and this evening we answered them alongside the other questions that came in over the course of an hour.
Below you will find a list of the questions asked, my Twitter answers and a slightly more in depth answer for some of the questions, given that I don't have to limit my letters and spaces here on my blog!
If you want to see the discussion on Twitter search for #LilyPondCAL
@Jane Crowfoot
Between 6 & 7pm today you can take part in a Q&A session with me & @StylecraftYarn here on twitter. Use #LilyPondCAL to tweet or follow x
@StylecraftYarn
Tonight at 6pm we are having a questions and answers session with @JaneCrowfoot. Send your quetsions in using the Hashtag #LilyPondCAL
@StylecraftYarn
Welcome to our live Q&A session with @JaneCrowfoot Do you have any questions about our #LilyPondCAL?
***
#LilyPondCAL thank you from all of us for making this, laughed when I realised the flowers were LAST..
@JaneCrowfoot
the lilies are not all made at the end. A little lily features in the patterns for next week and another one a fortnight later
***
Alicia:
I'm really curious which method will be used when it comes to putting it all together?
@JaneCrowfoot
I can give you a hint that it will be crocheted together rather than sewn! ;)
Alicia:
brilliant! Even better sewing is not my strong point :) thank you for answering loving the cal so far!
***
#LilyPondCAL There is a lot of confusion as to which is the right and wrong sides. Is there an easy way to tell?
@JaneCrowfoot
best way to tell is by looking at the remaining side of the foundation ch. RS you should see a little wave
Robyn:
good question Hilary! I was starting to get confused myself :-)
Additional Answer:
The foundation chain is not so clear on the back, but actually the easiest way to tell which is the front is to look at your yarn tail at the beginning of the foundation chain - if it is on the left then you have RS facing.
Image above is RS facing - notice the little wave running along the bottom?
***
Should I block before or after sewing ends in?
@JaneCrowfoot
I sew yarn ends in before I block as less danger of unravelling. Leave longish yarn tails & oversew more than once on last st #LilyPondCAL
Additional Answer:
I will add some more information about the way I block my pieces next week when the new pattern is released for Block Two
I will add some more information about the way I block my pieces next week when the new pattern is released for Block Two
***
@StylecraftYarn
Should I block each piece individually, or as a whole? #LilyPondCAL
@JaneCrowfoot
If you block before joining pieces
you will probably find they have curled up in between pieces #LilyPondCAL
@JaneCrowfoot
I block the completed project once it has been joined
together. I don’t use an iron, but wash gently by hand & lay out to dry #LilyPondCAL
***
@StylecraftYarn
Why do we change needle sizes so frequently? #LilyPondCAL
@JaneCrowfoot
Yarn tension changes depending on st - sts
with long posts create spaces so work gets wider if hook not changed #LilyPondCAL
Additional Comment:
Should say hook size not needle size!
@JaneCrowfoot
Other sts can make work tighter e.g. when ch is
used in place of a st, hence larger hook on skipped st #LilyPondCAL
***
Janice:
I have tried so very hard to get the right tension but as a novice its difficult, should I abandon the project? #LilyPondCAL
@JaneCrowfoot
have you taken a look at my blog post? If you are consistent & not far off the tension you should be ok
Janice:
Thanks Jane, this is my first project I hope to finish it
***
@StylecraftYarn
Can we sew our ends in as we go, or will it affect the
tension? #LilyPondCAL
@JaneCrowfoot
Sew in as you go! Paragraph for help at beginning of the pattern under the heading ‘dealing with yarn ends’. #LilyPondCAL
Here is the paragraph:
Dealing
with yarn ends: I tend to sew yarn ends in as I go
along – doing this makes the finishing process much easier as you will have
less to do. Sewing yarn ends in as you go along also means that you are less
likely to loose stitches or make errors with your tension.
I have posted the images above to give you an idea of how I sew my yarn ends in - these are not image of the CAL!
***
Julie:
Hi I am using the DK special instead of Life. Length of block is longer so not sure if its right to drop a hook size
@JaneCrowfoot
depends upon how much longer it is. If only minimal don't worry. Look at my blog post re tension #LilyPondCAL
Additional Answer:
Stylecraft Special is a true DK weight the same as Life DK, it can feel a little thicker than the life when you are using it, but tension wise it should come up almost exactly the same. We did a test to check!
***
Deborah:
Do you have to fight the urge to tell people to just keep going, you're going to love it and have fun? #LilyPondCAL
@JaneCrowfoot
they will love it and have fun! Natural to worry at first to be sure things are right ;P
***
@StylecraftYarn
How come I change colour at the end of a row, rather than
at the start of a new row? #LilyPondCAL
@JaneCrowfoot
If you don’t change on final step, loop on
hook at end of row will be in shade finished with therefore visible #LilyPondCAL
@JaneCrowfoot
If you change yarn shade after
completing the row you will see the ch is in same shade as previous row #LilyPondCAL
***
Colette:
No one is managing to achieve the tension that you have achieved. do you have any advice on how to achieve it?
@JaneCrowfoot
everyone has different tension & may not have realised. In depth post about this on my blog & film of FB
Additional Answer:
It can feel like a lot of people are not achieving the correct tension, but that might simply be because you are aware of lots of conversations about it within discussion topics on line and within forums. There are thousands of people globally working on this CAL and many are getting the tension correct - understandably they just don't appear to be as vocal as those who need help!
I wrote a long piece about tension last Friday and you will find it below this post.
I have also been sent a link to great tutorial which has been doing the rounds within some of the Facebook Groups, there is a link to it here.
There is also a link here to a tutorial on the Woman's Weekly web site
***
@StylecraftYarn
Jane is tapping away furiously next to me - she is getting to your questions as fast as you can #LilyPondCAL
JC - Just want to say I wasn't furious - just typing fast!
JC - Just want to say I wasn't furious - just typing fast!
***
@StylecraftYarn
Would you recommend using the magic knot, to avoid lots of ends? #LilyPondCAL
@JaneCrowfoot
I don't use it as I would not trust it not to come undone once the project washed and used repeatedly #LilyPondCAL
Additional Answer:
The magic knot is a way of joining yarn together in a way that leaves really short yarn ends. It is a nifty way to achieve a quick yarn change, but needs to be used with caution. especially when using slightly slippy yarns such as silk, bamboo etc
***
@StylecraftYarn
When will the bag pattern be released for sale? #LilyPondCAL
@JaneCrowfoot
Bag patt is a free gift for those who purchased yarn kit via my web site or those attending CAL workshops. #LilyPondCAL
@JaneCrowfoot
@StylecraftYarn I will be tutoring CAL workshops at your Mill & @BlackSheepWools in July #LilyPondCAL
Additional Answer:
We still have some customers waiting for their yarn kits to come back into stock (as we are still selling kits through our web site on a pre order basis). Once all our customers who are waiting for their kits and their free pattern have been looked after we might consider issuing the pattern for sale. Depending on demand the release date for sale would be the end of July once the CAL project finishes.
***
Judy:
I'm a beginner managed to get the blocks finished to the right size. Wondering how this is sewn together? Mattress Stitch?
@JaneCrowfoot
you can choose joining method, but I have written pattern using crochet st to join. Full instructions will be given #LilyPondCAL
@JaneCrowfoot
hope you are enjoying your new hobby! #LilyPondCAL
***
When it comes to Lily motif do you do a chain loop or magic loop? #LilyPondCAL
@JaneCrowfoot
I write the patterns for ch to form a ring as this is what most people do, but you can choose to use magic loop #LilyPondCAL
Additional Answer:
You will find loads of tutorials for the magic loop on line and on Youtube. It is a way of making a tighter ring at the beginning so that you get less of a hole at the centre of your ring. I personally like the effect a larger hole gives you, but can understand why some people would want to achieve a smaller hole. The method is almost always used in Amigurumi (Japanese origin - crochet creatures/small animals)
***
Julie:
how long should each piece take to crochet roughly?
@JaneCrowfoot
depends on so many things, like how you feel & where you are. Block one may take a few hours but you will speed up
Additional Answer:
Please don't feel disheartened if you feel that others are working through this project faster than you are. The important thing is to enjoy it and get it right. Everyone crochets at a different speed, the same way that runners all run the Marathon in different times, except that this isn't a race and you don't have to leave your sofa!
***
@StylecraftYarn
Thank you too @JaneCrowfoot for answering all those great questions. More answers on Jane's blog and our web site tomorrow #LilyPondCAL
@JaneCrowfoot
Thank you too! I'm off to do a spot of crochet! #LilyPondCAL
Barbara:
@JaneCrowfoot @StylecraftYarn must be a #LilyPondCAL for lots tonight good way to unwind after a day at work