Any non-twee crochet ideas?i

[Orangeanddemons]

I love doing crochet, I find it so enjoyable, relaxing and soothing.

But,but,but...I just don't like what it produces. I don't want horrid necklaces, weird bags/teapots or cutesy bows or flowers. My house is contemporary and modern, and I'm the same. So what non twee item can I make?

Why don't you just look up clothes patterns? There are lots of good scarves, long cardigans etc.

I really like making toys. I've just bought the Edward's Menagerie book which has loads of lovely animals to make.

Or pick a texture you like and make a throw in a classy shade of cream of grey, or something that fits with your home.

Pinterest has loads of great inspiration for projects.

I am currently on my second crochet beanbag. I am using entrelac as it gives a nice closed weave.

I hear you! I hate crochet clothes, they're so heavy and inflexible. You need to get on Pinterest!

Sometimes I think it's all about colour choice e.g. this scarf has pretty traditional stitches but the modern colour choice makes it beautiful - www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lady-fern-2

Or go minimalist style - all one colour, imagine the repetition in this would make it relaxing to make! 1.bp.blogspot.com/-pgpqx2PVJnc/U2vGOl0qc8I/AAAAAAAALiQ/pOy6o3AvehI/s1600/3+capetown.jpg

Have you tried mini crochet/lace style? Get a 0.5 hook and crochet thread. Try a snowflake or two for Christmas?

Footstool idea - www.flickr.com/photos/dottieangel/5845770776/in/faves-57399906@N05/

Rug idea - indulgy.com/post/LL2H5XHfV1/crochet-rug

I'm itching to try this linen and lace idea - www.flickr.com/photos/tuuni/4483619696/in/photostream/

I came across some quite classy looking cabled cushions on Ravelry yesterday which woudl look lovely in a neutral colour.

I make snowflakes. I like them. I don't like crocheted clothes, so I'm limited to throws and cushions I think. I like the crochet lace too.

But,but,but...I just don't like what it produces.

It produces whatever you want it to though. Choosing a different colour scheme makes a huge difference to the finished look of an item - for example something that might look fussy in multiple colours looks completely different in a single colour.

I made a blanket that was white with bright spots. This would look completely different done in say, fifty shades of grey instead.

Fifty shades of grey sounds quite interesting. My living room is cream, orange and grey.

I made the pattern up myself because I didn't like other similar ones that were around.

Have you wasted hours of your life in the Ravelry pattern database or on Pinterest? Find something you quite like and change it so it's perfect for you. A Ripple blanket for example can be done in multiple colours which might not be yr thing. However, it can also be done in a single colour, using "back /front loop only" to accentuate the ripple pattern. Or it can be done in fifty shades of grey. :)

Geometric patterns might be more your thing. There is a stung inclusion blanket made out of, I think, diamond shapes that look like cubes when put together.

illusion blanket

geometric circles

Both these would work as cushion covers too if you didn't want a throw.

My favourite thing that I've made is a bowl/basket. It's just crochet a circle then pick up the outside part of the loop and continue crocheting

So it's like a cylinder on top of a circle. I used Noro Kuryon yarn in my favourite colours, a bigger hook, then felted it in the washing machine to give it good structure. I have it on the bathroom windowsill with scissors etc in it.

Easy to knock up on next to no time. In fact this thread has promoted me to make another.

The felting is fun too.

This is the tutorial I used as a base.

versusmag.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/crochet-nesting-cups-tutorial-with.html?m=1

Check out PurlSoho on Ravelry (or Pinterest) as their patterns are v contemporary and modern (or in IMO they are ) but there are also lots of v cool crochet stuff on Pinterest too which is usually easier to find but then often links back into Ravelry too.

You could do a large crochet basket? crochet pouffey/ floor cushion? like this or this