But anyway, back to the knitting/crochet. And also a little bit of embroidery, because working round the garden of that big crochet house-related project, I’ve realized that at this teeny scale, some things are just easier embroidered. Yep, despite taking on such a monstrously bonkers, months-long mega-project, I’m all for making things easy when I can.
So. This garden is going to have a lot of veg. I’ve always preferred growing things you can eat to growing flowers, although let’s not discuss how badly I’ve neglected the allotment thus far. It’s got to the stage where I’m anxious about even going up there, thus procrastinating further. Anyway getting back to the crochet. Right next to the cauliflowers, I decided to plant some carrots. And unless I was going to use a 0.000001mm crochet hook and hair’s-breadth yarn, it just seemed easier to embroider the things. Here’s the first row finished, with the second row waiting for its tops:-
Just in case your skillset doesn’t yet include working miniature carrots in yarn (why on earth not?!) I’ll share with you how I made them. Because I’m sure it’s a technique you’ll need soon enough. Hey, maybe you could make a crocheted hat in brown yarn with rows and rows of vegetables growing on its surface. Y’know, I’m almost tempted to start such a project right now. I’ll call it the allotment hat. It’ll be awesome, although maybe some of the saner inhabitants of this village will look at me askance when I wear it out in public.
But back to the housey project. First, use orange yarn to embroider over and over in one place to get a hard little carroty bump protruding from the soil. I used DK-weight cotton. Then take some pale green yarn for the leafy bit on top. I used DK-weight acrylic because I knew it would look fluffy. It took a bit of trial-and-error to get the carrot tops right. At first, I made them far too full and fluffy and they resembled pale green Afros, which isn’t a good look on a carrot.
So I toned it down a bit. Here’s how: sew a length through the top of the carrot, leaving at least 2 inches on either side (to allow for effortless knot-tying).
Then tie a reef knot. This fixes the yarn securely. On top of that, tie a single knot like this, involving looping both strands round together then pushing them through the loop. (Is there a name for this knot?):-
This makes a nice-shaped base for the leaves and ensures that both strands of yarn are pointing upwards. Make sure your knots are tight. Cut your yarn to a vaguely sensible length.
Then use a needle to separate the plies within each strand. Then cut each ply to a slightly different length. And you’re done!
OK, maybe these won’t win best-in-show, but they’re not bad.
Onions can be worked in a similar way, but use pale brown yarn to make a more protruding bump, and don’t separate or fluff your leafy strands. And use a less fluff-some yarn for the leafy bits – maybe cotton? Am I making sense?
And as a bonus vegetable, I made 3 loops of 5 chain stitches to make each of these lettucy thingies:-
More very soon. Perhaps even a finished object…
this is insanely cute. I can’t imagine the time that you have invested into this project. Great job
Far. Too. Much. Time.
Seriously. Oh well. Better go and sink a few more hours into this insanity…
That is so cool and creative!
Thank you!
It’s an overhand knot.
Thank you!
I love it…I need to find a way to get my niece to read this blog;-)…I’ll tell her about the not-so-toddler twinnage…that might help;-). I’d say wear the hat out on special occasions, then suggest if they want you to wear fewer gardens they could plant more…or it could be a quirky tribute to roof-top gardening…
Thank you. And your niece is more than welcome to borrow the twinnage if she visits this site. 🙂
She would be happy to borrow them;-)…I’m still in a wee bit of trouble for monopolizing time with my cousin’s infant at the last wedding;-). I needed my baby fix, darn it;-).
Amazingly cute! You could make beets the same way.
Ooh, you’re right. Good idea. But have I got some beet-coloured yarn……………
I so want to make a yarn vege garden – just’cos!!
And you’d do so far more impressively and colourfully than I ever could.
Goodness alive, how darling those carrots are! This is the kind of garden that makes everyone smile. I can’t wait to see the whole shebang. 🙂
It’s coming soon. It really, really REALLY is…
As a gardener, and as someone who finds those little icing carrots on cakes endearing, this is just…well, I can’t get enough of it.
Thank you! Icing carrots are better behaved than these lumps of fluff.
But not nearly as permanent!
At least they taste better.
very very cute…..!!! affectionately referred to around our house at this time of as the ‘scarrots’ (with creepy faces carved in to the fleshy parts of the veggie!)
Tee hee, I like it!!
What a totally fabulous veggie patch!! Brilliant! Loved the hat idea also, or perhaps a carrot-topped beanie?!
Yes, that’d be so much fun!
So cute!
Thank you.
You in your allotment hat need to meet me in my allotment hat on the allotment in half term. Signed ( in blood) The Fluffy Carrot. ?
Yup. Deal. Wednesday?
I am TOTALLY going to make that vegetable hat! That way, when the rats scarf my entire harvest later on this year I will at least be able to know that I still have some form of vegetable matter that I had a hand in producing. HAHAHA! “Pale green afro’s” Hilarious Ms Twisted ;). I think the name for that knot is the “Stay put you bollocks!” knot. Loving the eccentricity this blog brings to my life. I have 4 weeks left of TAFE (college) where I have to wrap my brains around all sorts of techy rubbish that makes my head hurt just thinking about it but looking at that yarny feel-good dirt and those sweet teeny tiny yarny veggies does my poor addled brain a power of good. Keep up the good work Ms Twisted. Some of our sanities are hinged on it.
But after those four weeks of TAFE stress, I hope you’ll have lots and lots and lots of time for crochet and gardening and general peacefulness?
So do I Ms Twisted. I have a lot of happy thoughts on hold till then 🙂
Oh, so cute and so detailed! Looking forward to see the finished project; it is an amazing design! Hege
It’s nearly done, it really is. Very soon…
Ingenious and a very useful bit of knowledge!
Glad you like it. It’ll be finished very soon, honest!
That is so cool! Love to see the finished project…
It’s almost done. I know it’s taken a ridiculous time, but it really is nearly done…
Love your veggies! We could all do with more fibre in our diet, and you’re clearly leading the way. 😉
Yup, definitely a high-fibre endeavour. 😉
Looks great! your veggies grow better then mine …
Corine
…Also better than my real ones, if that’s any consolation!
What a fantastic way to your five a day. Love it! X
Yup, lots of fibre…
I love this – the carrots are inspired. You could add a subtitle to your blog – the Quirky Stitcher ……..
Yes! Although maybe the word ‘bonkers’ should be in there somewhere too.
“Oh, my allotment is in such a state, I desperately need to visit it, but I’ve just realised I can’t possibly do so until I have knit myself a hat and covered it with minature vegetables made of yarn” – that sounds like my kind of procrastination 😉 It would look cool though, if a little odd.
Yup: you’ve seen straight in to my brain!
those vegetables are so cute!!!!
Thank you! They’re a bit bonkers, though.
Those are great carrots! I love what you’re doing with this project. I am also in awe that you can name knots and know how to make them.
Well I did have help from an earlier commenter re. one of the knots, but I do remember reef knots from Brownies, many decades ago. Glad you like the carrots.
I still greatly admire your knowledge.
You are an amazing crafter! I can’t wait to see the project FO! Your veggies are simply adorable!
…And a bit crazy, but thank you.
Unusual and charming! Cheered up my day. 😉
Glad to be of service!
so awesome xx
Thank you!
These carrots are unbelievable darling. Bravo!
They’re a bit crazy, though.