Interview
| RaChel John
it up and create something beautiful in the
process. Pieces made by this method can last
many generations and have the potential to
become much-loved family heirlooms.
IC: What is your favourite thing about crochet?
RJ: I particularly like the Tunisian Crochet, which
gives a woven effect and is definitely a cross
between knitting and crochet in its technique.
I am always intrigued by the many effects that
can be achieved simply by a slight variation in
manipulation of the yarn around the tool.
IC: How does crochet differ from knitting for you?
RJ: It seems natural to me to investigate the
properties of all crafts, to play with the potential
effects to be found in each. For example, the
shaping possibilities vary between the craft
disciplines and there is an increased variety of
stitches to play with. It is easier and neater to
work in the round with crochet, and it is easier
to do freeform crafting with a hook.
I will confess that I will probably never be a
master of any of the individual techniques, such
as knitting or crochet. I am happy to play with
all of them. I am more interested in developing
new ways to craft, like my Extreme Textiles.
IC: What came first, knitting or crochet? of colours, the item will often fit into several Rachel regularly exhibits
RJ: I never really had a ‘favourite’, although I am colour schemes and so is more versatile. at shows and it's quite
more familiar with knitting because that was an experience to step
what I first learned as a child. I taught myself to IC: What is your goal with your Extreme Crochet? into her giant world.
crochet when I wanted to play with the effects. RJ: To push the limits of what you can do with
crochet. To find new, practical outcomes for
IC: How do you pick colours for extreme projects? the craft of crochet. The technique is so fast,
RJ: There are several ways to think about the colour fantastic and great fun.
inspiration for a project. You could match your
yarn to several shades in the room you intend IC: What do people need to get started?
to have the piece in. For example, to match a RJ: Tools, yarn and stitch instructions. And an idea
30-strand rug to a room, you will be using 30 of something you want to make. Start with
balls of yarn to make the rug. In the room you something simple like a cushion cover, bag or
intend to use the rug in, look around and see if small rug – all are simple squares or oblongs.
“
It may seem a
yarn-hungry
there are five to six colours that you particularly Cast on or chain around 25 stitches in 10-20
way to work
like or that you wish to match your item to. If mixed thin and thick yarns, and crochet in a
you choose, say, five colours then that breaks stitch of your choice until long enough to suit
but the end
down into six strands of each colour, making your purpose. Experiment with more or less
product can
30 strands. When working six strands of one strands, more or less stitches. There are many
colour, you can choose several shades rather sources of stitch instructions available – in
be practical,
than just one, to add depth to the end piece. books, magazines and on-line.
washable and
You can take the same principle and select Yarns can include wool and manmade fibres,
colours from many things, such as a photo that cloth strips, rope, string, wire, grasses and
hard wearing.
you like, a favourite painting, a flower or a straws – anything that can be manipulated into
season. The more shades and strands you work a usable, woven piece of material. I like to think
with, the richer the colour mix becomes. It that all craft that I produce has a purpose, is
may seem at first to be an extravagant, yarn- practical and functional in some way.
hungry way to work, using maybe 17kg in one
”
piece, but the joy is that the end product can Find out more about Rachel John and Extreme
be so practical, washable and hard wearing. I Crochet at
www.racheljohn.co.uk, and look out for a
have also found that because of using mixtures project from Rachel in a future issue.
36 | INSIDE Crochet
IC3.Interview.FINAL.indd 36 7/7/09 15:47:30
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100