Did Marc Jacobs get it right with this crochet design? Does putting it on an actress from Gossip Girl make it high fashion? You decide!
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Thursday, November 25, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Do you remember the words to "Little Bunny Foo Foo?"
I have mixed emotions about today's item for consideration.
I am over-run with bunnies, so the fur aspect is not a sticking point
I don't hate the thread work but the idea of the cream fur and the cream edging
makes me want to throw paint on it just to brighten it up.
So - chantilly cream, Would you wear it and how would you spice it up?
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
A Question of Copyright
Use of pictures in a snark blog is a tricky thing. Finding pictures of ugly, loathsome and downright horrible crocheted articles is easy, finding those that are not protected in the Sanctuary of Craft- Etsy requires careful, methodical, prowling.
Once the in-season, correct size, non-pregnant Fug is bagged, Fair Use and Comment - that taking/utilising a picture in order to make remarks, wax lyrical and/or snark without claiming, purporting or representing it as "mine own" - is according to the laws of several countries (at least) allowable.
Whilst trawling for fug (Here Fuggie, Fuggie, Fuggie... Eat the nice merino.... Goooood Fuggie..... Gotcha ya little Bastard!) I have preferred and legal hunting spots. But it also means I have seen much in the way of crocheted articles, Fug or otherwise. I also, courtesy of some OCD-ish streak honed by years in jobs where remembering minutae is rewarded, have a good, acknowleged as some as 'phenomenal', memory.
Thus, while lurking in the long grass of one manufacturing marketplace, I noted a merchant, touting his ability to mass produce wares, specifically crocheted, specifically... this.
Not a brilliant picture, I'll admit.
A relatively inoffensive yellowy Baby Afghan.
Which I instantly recognised because a) I'm a pattern hoarder and b) I've made this pattern three times myself.
It is, for those of you who don't recognise it,
one of Terry Kimbrough's designs.
This one, shown in pink.
Which makes me curious.
Most of us who write patterns (for free usage on our blogs, Crochet Pattern Central or Ravelry) put a caveat regarding what use items made from our patterns may be put to.
And commercial quantities is usually cited as a no-no.
Which leaves me wondering whether this is actually a licensed and legitimate use of a pattern, or if a Shonk has crept into our field of view?
Once the in-season, correct size, non-pregnant Fug is bagged, Fair Use and Comment - that taking/utilising a picture in order to make remarks, wax lyrical and/or snark without claiming, purporting or representing it as "mine own" - is according to the laws of several countries (at least) allowable.
Whilst trawling for fug (Here Fuggie, Fuggie, Fuggie... Eat the nice merino.... Goooood Fuggie..... Gotcha ya little Bastard!) I have preferred and legal hunting spots. But it also means I have seen much in the way of crocheted articles, Fug or otherwise. I also, courtesy of some OCD-ish streak honed by years in jobs where remembering minutae is rewarded, have a good, acknowleged as some as 'phenomenal', memory.
Thus, while lurking in the long grass of one manufacturing marketplace, I noted a merchant, touting his ability to mass produce wares, specifically crocheted, specifically... this.
Not a brilliant picture, I'll admit.
A relatively inoffensive yellowy Baby Afghan.
Which I instantly recognised because a) I'm a pattern hoarder and b) I've made this pattern three times myself.
It is, for those of you who don't recognise it,
one of Terry Kimbrough's designs.
This one, shown in pink.
Which makes me curious.
Most of us who write patterns (for free usage on our blogs, Crochet Pattern Central or Ravelry) put a caveat regarding what use items made from our patterns may be put to.
And commercial quantities is usually cited as a no-no.
Which leaves me wondering whether this is actually a licensed and legitimate use of a pattern, or if a Shonk has crept into our field of view?
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Yes, I *know* we're What Not To Crochet
and not What Not To Knit...
But I have to ask..
Just what the FUCK is this??
Saturday, June 19, 2010
For those who were wondering - What Etsy is for
This is one time I am going to bounce on Etsy. But it's in a good cause - so please.. big girls' panties time if you don't like it.
It has come to my attention that Mr Brian Leahy, author of (hang on, let me go and check) "The Groom Says" has tapped a blog post on Aisle Dash, explaining "Why Men Don't Get Etsy".
First of all, Brian, men don't get a lot of things - such as why remembering birthdays are important but you have failed to understand two certain principles that etsy lives and (well.. let's hope not) dies by:
a) Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and
b) one person's trash may be another's treasure.
Yes, etsy may seem to be the hippie younger sister of eBay and tell me you havent considered going there for a hit - just when you felt you had to get away from the polished bright older sister, and indulge in something a little less organised, the one without the filofax and the Prada handbag. However, Etsy is there because sometimes you make something so wonderful, you need to tell more people about it than just the cat.
Etsy exists as The Worlds Largest Crafty Trash & Treasure Sale, a ginormous hall full of trestle tables with wares oh so artfully displayed. But there is a sense of communion (not the grape/wine/bread/flesh thing) but people creating displaying and yes, in a rather understated way, because no one likes to imply that they do it for the money as we're not those kind of hookers.
Are there items on etsy that I just dont understand?
Yes, and I take comfort in the fact that I'm not the only one who is bemused by a pile of crocheted elephants that appear to be fornicating.
That's one scene from Dumbo they didnt show you...
But etsy is the place that you can set your own terms for your work -
whether you should be surprised that your $500 Amigurumi Crochet Rabbit keyring doesnt sell
is another question.
But etsy is there so the makers can say that "hey I did THIS" - unlike the drill or chainsaw spruiked at Homecentre, anonymous and only gains a personality or purpose if it's lucky and gets taken home.
Etsy doesnt expect everyone to understand her, she's grateful for the attention, but would really prefer the attention of someone who does call her back in the morning.
It has come to my attention that Mr Brian Leahy, author of (hang on, let me go and check) "The Groom Says" has tapped a blog post on Aisle Dash, explaining "Why Men Don't Get Etsy".
First of all, Brian, men don't get a lot of things - such as why remembering birthdays are important but you have failed to understand two certain principles that etsy lives and (well.. let's hope not) dies by:
a) Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and
b) one person's trash may be another's treasure.
Yes, etsy may seem to be the hippie younger sister of eBay and tell me you havent considered going there for a hit - just when you felt you had to get away from the polished bright older sister, and indulge in something a little less organised, the one without the filofax and the Prada handbag. However, Etsy is there because sometimes you make something so wonderful, you need to tell more people about it than just the cat.
Etsy exists as The Worlds Largest Crafty Trash & Treasure Sale, a ginormous hall full of trestle tables with wares oh so artfully displayed. But there is a sense of communion (not the grape/wine/bread/flesh thing) but people creating displaying and yes, in a rather understated way, because no one likes to imply that they do it for the money as we're not those kind of hookers.
Are there items on etsy that I just dont understand?
Yes, and I take comfort in the fact that I'm not the only one who is bemused by a pile of crocheted elephants that appear to be fornicating.
That's one scene from Dumbo they didnt show you...
But etsy is the place that you can set your own terms for your work -
whether you should be surprised that your $500 Amigurumi Crochet Rabbit keyring doesnt sell
is another question.
But etsy is there so the makers can say that "hey I did THIS" - unlike the drill or chainsaw spruiked at Homecentre, anonymous and only gains a personality or purpose if it's lucky and gets taken home.
Etsy doesnt expect everyone to understand her, she's grateful for the attention, but would really prefer the attention of someone who does call her back in the morning.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Quality has to count for something or "You're only as good as your last DC"
I come before you today, in this forum of What Not To Crochet, to humbly bring to your combined notice, an Item which leaves me concerned for the state of Crochet and the patterns that are being sold to the public.
The intention is not to denigrate this pattern's representative item for its colour, which is admittedly that least favourite: the indescribable Putrid Pea Soup of a Misbegotten Grinchy Green, the very thought of which makes me, an average crocheter, feel nauseated to the point where only the memory of the 11 x 200gm skeins of pure natural coloured wool I scored for a whopping $1 a skein at a thrift store today can numb the discomfort but instead to highlight the flawed construction of an item which, to purchase the pattern, will cost you $US 2.99 ( $Aus 3.23, £1.85, €2.06, ¥273, $SGD 4.65, Rph 463) alone.
Yes, Ladies, Gentlemen, Crocheters of all ages and mental effectiveness, even th0ugh this item is listed in it's vendor's "Quick and Easy" section, I ask you all to pause and consider this "slipper" pattern:
The intention is not to denigrate this pattern's representative item for its colour, which is admittedly that least favourite: the indescribable Putrid Pea Soup of a Misbegotten Grinchy Green, the very thought of which makes me, an average crocheter, feel nauseated to the point where only the memory of the 11 x 200gm skeins of pure natural coloured wool I scored for a whopping $1 a skein at a thrift store today can numb the discomfort but instead to highlight the flawed construction of an item which, to purchase the pattern, will cost you $US 2.99 ( $Aus 3.23, £1.85, €2.06, ¥273, $SGD 4.65, Rph 463) alone.
Yes, Ladies, Gentlemen, Crocheters of all ages and mental effectiveness, even th0ugh this item is listed in it's vendor's "Quick and Easy" section, I ask you all to pause and consider this "slipper" pattern:
Even if a pattern is a) quick, b) easy and/or c) all of the above, should the resulting item not also involve some level of Quality ?
If you travel further down the tunnel of wrist pain that every FPDC carpals you towards, should not the Finished Product refrain from allowing the wearer's big toe prolapsing?
If you hook it, whether afghan, amigurumi or applique-intended flower, does it not then exist as a Crocheted item, bearing witness to and representing Crochet-kind throughout the Intarwebs and beyond? Does the Item not then deserve, in Crochet's larval form: pattern and skein to be rendered with some element of mechanical/artisan skill?
Consider the flaws above - gaping stitches being probably the most obvious of sins, is this then, a pattern you would actively buy?
Friday, January 1, 2010
Welcome to 2010!
Now we've beaten 2009 and the rest of those effin' horrible Noughties into submission, dipped them in peanut butter and fed them to a Poodle, 2010 is The time to party and to make the changes we want to see in the world.
Apparently, however 2010's new and fresh opportunities doesn't mean I'm allowed to wrestle the yarn away from an elderly lady in the Craft SuperStore, when she's gathered together Turquoise, Mustard, Emerald, Teal and Fuschia acrylics with the texture of baling twine on the pretext of making an blanky for her granddaughter.
Yeah - Even when I called it an Intervention, I got told No.
Anyway - welcome to 2010, hope you've got your knickers ready:
Apparently, however 2010's new and fresh opportunities doesn't mean I'm allowed to wrestle the yarn away from an elderly lady in the Craft SuperStore, when she's gathered together Turquoise, Mustard, Emerald, Teal and Fuschia acrylics with the texture of baling twine on the pretext of making an blanky for her granddaughter.
Yeah - Even when I called it an Intervention, I got told No.
Anyway - welcome to 2010, hope you've got your knickers ready:
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