Replies

1. 
   Becky-book | Sep 20, 2007 07:59pm | #1

   You have been busy!!

2. 
   fabricholic | Sep 20, 2007 08:40pm | #2

   Are these wrap around or do you have zippers in them? I can't see them close up. What is the definition of a sweater coat? Is it because it is heavier than a regular cardigan?

1. 
   rodezzy | Sep 20, 2007 09:06pm | #3

   A sweater coat is longer then a sweater that usually stops at the waist.  Outside of the ponchos that are made of one rectangle folded in half leaving a opening for your head, the coats have closings and cover my hips, the pink goes down to my knees.  The red and tan has wooden buttons, the top button is emblished with red beads.  The Purple/yellow/white has beaded buttons in a bag in my sewing room waiting to be applied.  The Red/black coat has ties made of crochet chains.  The granny square dark pink/brown has ties at the neck and is a cropped jacket.  (don't forget I'm short)

   The pink coat has a longer back that goes past my knees and the front stops just before the knees, it has mult-colored plastic see-thru buttons w/gold sparkles in them.  The tan/turgoise poncho is beaded with clear beads and with opaque blue and solid blue beads.  The tan/black/white poncho is beaded with clear and opague tan beads.  The black/multi jacket covers my hips and has black barrel buttons.  The tan jacket w/red stripe on one side, green stripe on other has oblong wooden buttons tied on with the jacket yarn.

   whew!

1. 
   fabricholic | Sep 20, 2007 10:48pm | #8

   Awesome!

3. 
   VKStitcher | Sep 20, 2007 09:21pm | #4

   Wow!  I've looked at all the pictures you've posted.  You are one talented lady!

   I like your sweater coats a lot.  They're so colorful, and you've used unique yarns.  I'd love to try one.  Do you have a pattern, or do you just stitch as you go until it looks right?  Sometimes I do that with afghans, but they're just basic rectangles.  I'd think that sleeves and collars would take a bit of calculation to get the proportions right...

   Thanks for posting the pictures.  I'm amazed and inspired.  (Now I'd better get back to work!)

1. 
   rodezzy | Sep 20, 2007 09:45pm | #5

   Well, VKStitcher - you know I have a story for that.  It all started last year when I learned to make a shrug when I got back into crocheting with a vengence. (smile)  I was watching "Uncommon Threads" on DIY that I record every day and watch when I come home.  Well, this group of ladies made a shrug, shracket, and shroat.  And I wanted to make a coat from the shrug figuring I had the sleeves done already and wouldn't have to sew them in.  I said to myself, I could just crochet around the opening until it was what I wanted.  That didn't work out like I planned and I complained to my crafteist, bestest friend here in Chgo who brought me a new book she had just bought Crochet Squared by Marsha A. Polk. 

   All of the coats/jackets start with rectangles the measurements for your body.  One for the back, two fronts and two sleeves.  Large crochet hooks (M, N, P) and any yarn.  It's crocheted across the back to the width you need.  I've since modified the as you can see with the teal and tan since its a big granny square.  I just stopped making the square when it reach my measurement for a back.  I've gone hog wild with on the fly modifications since last year and I really just sat down with the yarns I wanted to use and used Marsha Polk's principles and got busy.  Things swirl in my head until I'm finished.  I make the jackets/coats and they may not get buttons until I see them somewhere a month later.  Or sometimes the jacket/coat tells me how it wants to be finished.  Just like my quilts.  They speak to me too and tell me what they want to look like and I follow their advice.  After all who knows better me or the quilt? (smile)

   The start chain is the length you want (appx. 50 or more).  You change yarns when you want and design your own pieces.  After you finish you attach the fronts to the back.  Open it out and fold sleeves in half and center to shoulder seams and join by whip stich or single crochet.  Whatever the piece dictates.  Then seam under sleeve down side of coat/jacket.  I just start crocheting around the neckline until satisfied.  Making increases at the beg and end to make it point if I want it to.  Then I embellish to my hearts content.  And you can do it too.  All of the coat/jackets I made last year is one stitch - single crochet.  The ones this year are double crochet.  No fancy pattern stitches, rows or nothing.  Just yummy yarn and the need to create without too much thinking about the next row pattern.

    

1. 
   VKStitcher | Sep 20, 2007 10:14pm | #6

   You have a good friend.  I wonder...did she imagine that you would go so "hog wild" with that book to inspire you??

   I'll have to see if I can find the book here (Borders maybe? or a yarn store?)  I can do rectangles (and even a few fancy stitches!), so I could make a sweater coat if I figure out the measurements.  But it will sure take me longer to finish one than you, with your flying fingers!  :-)

   Thank you for explaining how you do it.  I believe I will try one when I finish the afghan that I'm working on now for Project Linus.  My local quilt/knit shop has some really nifty jewel tone yarns and handmade glass buttons....Hmmmm....(my mind is working on this, when I really should be doing Accounts Payable....)

   Vickie

   Edited 9/20/2007 3:16 pm ET by VKStitcher

1. 
   rodezzy | Sep 20, 2007 10:28pm | #7

   Amazon books online carry it.  Just go on the internet and type in Crochet Squared Marsha A. Polk and you'll get it.

   Yea, I even crocheted her a jacket, and it fit her perfectly.  She would laugh every time I called and said I just finished a coat/jacket.  She would laugh and laugh and laugh.  She made several beautiful ponchos in the rectangular style before I did and I started with the ponchos too.  We had been collecting the yarns on our craft ventures/spending sprees.  So it was interesting to see what we did with the yarns we saw each and the other buy.  Because we bought a lot of the same brands together, just different colors.  We mixed them with our at home stash that neither of us had seen.  We also ordered discounted novelty yarns online.

   I saw the book at the Knitting Expo in a booth that had books for all crafts, and she wouldn't let me buy it.  I had borrowed hers and gave it back after I learned the principles of construction from it.  She must be giving me the book for Christmas. 

    

   Edited 9/20/2007 3:29 pm ET by rodezzy

2. 
   GailAnn | Sep 21, 2007 05:48pm | #11

   I've been reading KNIT KIMONO by Vicki Square.  Has a lot to say about the various rectangles used in clothing.  Interesting. 

   That MUST BE it, I reat too much and needlework too little!  Gail

1. 
   rodezzy | Sep 21, 2007 06:14pm | #12

   I believe I have that book also.  I've picked a couple of projects to do.  Knitting is a little slow.  But I have to finish the afghans for my grands first. 

4. 
   solosmocker | Sep 21, 2007 12:45am | #9

   I really admire your creativity. These are just so unique and gorgeous. You could sell me one in a heartbeat! solo

5. 
   Cherrypops | Sep 21, 2007 04:30am | #10

   Awesome!!!

6. 
   wlric | Sep 22, 2007 06:04am | #13

   Thank you so much for the photos of your work. They are wonderful and original. How good it must make you feel to wear them. I am such a slow knitter that I tend to convince myself that I can't do it. Never learned to crochet. You are an inspiration.
   wlric

1. 
   GailAnn | Sep 22, 2007 05:44pm | #14

   I just ordered the Crochet Squared book from Amazon.  A real bargan, I can hardly wait.  Gail

1. 
   rodezzy | Sep 24, 2007 06:45pm | #15

   Great!  It was truely freeing in making my projects.

2. 
   rodezzy | Sep 24, 2007 06:46pm | #16

   I'm so glad to be able to inspire crochet!  I've been knitting an afghan for my grand daughter.  It's so slow, I should have crocheted it, it would have been done by now (giggle).  But I must press now that I've started it.