I was somewhat forced into learning to crochet as my mom was on her deathbed with only 7 stitches to complete the wedding for my sister and her wife….. a king size red & white stripe blanket.. I was a long time knitter and while I knew how to make a chain & sc I did not crochet.
My sister in law asked me to finish mom’s project
I said I wasn’t sure I could ~ she felt slighted so sitting beside my semi conscious mom and decided the best way to proceed was to undo 2 stitches hoping I’d be able to construct what I now know is an American dc. There were now only 9 stitches needed to complete this all important and very emotional last gift to my sister from our mom. Mom passed 2 days later. I crotched for a year…. Placemats scarves and eventually I turned to YouTube seeking to learn more and made 4 baby sweaters in 4 days. Eventually I joined a UK based group online and joined a CAL: this was when my magnum opus came to fruition!!!! A very talented designer created The Sophie’s Garden design. More complex than anything my very talented mom had ever made!! I struggled with stitch counts and front & back post treble crochets but I did as much of the pattern as I liked, and folded it up and set it aside… I wanted my finished piece to be a large square and this was changing directions multiple times. Shortly after I joined yet another CAL & found the stitch count I had was the same stitch count for a particular section in this new pattern ~ so I took her out in time out and began adding onto my Sophie’s Garden and finished her using Around the bases pattern! I was so very proud of my accomplishment & also knowing how amazed and proud mom would be.
That's a beautiful story and a real example of how skills are shared, developed and passed on through the generations. I've seen that blanket before and am in awe of anyone who attempts it. My crochet skills are strictly limited to granny squares and straight lines.
I don’t have a comment about a magnum opus, but I think your blanket is beautiful. I hope it brings good memories as well as those you have mentioned. 2020 was a challenging year, for sure!
Thank you. I can look at it fondly now. But I still need to find a way to use it - it's not very practical but my son had the suggestion of folding it in half and buttoning it to stay folded. That way it's a more usable size.
That is an EPIC blanket!! And what a monumental effort. I have painted some murals in a mental health hospital. At the time, I thought I wanted to do more, but now, I think perhaps not 🤣. I was paid for them though so not quite the same. I have just finished illustrating a children’s picture book, that my friend (the author) and I are publishing through our new little publishing company! It has taken soooooo long and has been soooooo hard. There’s very little chance the effort and the time spent will ever ‘pay back’ but I’m also soooooo proud of what we’ve accomplished. It doesn’t feel like it matters, because we’re creating a magical world together 💛
Wow that’s an amazing piece though! I feel most of my things I make I never want to do again. That said I think mine would have to be a knitted panel of the London Underground I made for my boyfriend of the time’s parents who collected underground posters. It was really fun to figure out all the changes of colour (I designed it myself) but boy was it messy at the back! I’d only recently learned the skill of intarsia so it was very lumpy and bumpy. Part of me would love to do it again just so I can improve upon it (and actually see it again - I’m clearly no longer in touch with the ex’s parents) but part of me thinks “nah I’ve done that now”
My mini- magnum opus is a bright orange wool beanie I knitted 15 years ago during one of my darkest times. It was my first knitting project, with the most basic stitches I learned from my grandma when I was a kid. Knitting proved to be incredibly therapeutic, bringing me a sense of calm. Even though my knitting was uneven and filled with mistakes, I still wear that beanie. It serves as a reminder of the days when I was searching for light at the end of the tunnel...
My magnum opus - a figured "Tree of Life" blanket for which a friend sent me the yarn and the pattern, otherwise I'd never have attempted such a thing. Tiny interlocking cables everywhere, knot-stitching ... ! Picked it up and put it down for several years before I finally finished. Amazed every time I look at it, and: never again.
Oh wow, I’ve seen people share those and always been so impressed. I don’t think it’s ever something I would undertake myself but hats off to you for completing it.
My magnum opus has to be the big blue Doctor Who scarf I made for Alex. It's 28 ft long and I completed it in 6 weeks so we could take it on holiday to Scotland.
Alex is 6 ft 3 and even he had to wrap it round several times, I took a photo of him next to the stormtrooper in a kilt next to Edinburgh Waverley Station - Alex let him wear the scarf and it absolutely dwarfs him!
My magnum opus is not a stitching project but renovating and decorating my house. The house is big. Five bedrooms, one reception, large kitchen diner and two bathrooms. It was in an absolute state when we bought it. We had to take out floors because of dry rot, the original kitchen never even had electricity, the place had mostly not been decorated since the 1930s. You get the picture. We actually bought it because it was cheap, had 10 foot ceilings and large sash windows.
We did the most important decorating before we moved in, then after two years, we had the builders in for tree months and after that I did one room per year. And once I was finished I did quite a few again and after that several again.
Now it is a beautiful house which we love and everyone who visits does too.
But I would never ever take on a project like this again.
Oh my word. I would find something like that so daunting. I struggle with even the mildest form of domestic disruption. Hats off to you for completing it.
I don’t have a magnum opus. I knitted a 4ply sweater for my partner in 2020 which felt like a never ending project. Hours of stocking stitch in the round relieved only by a colourwork neck, hem and cuffs. My gauge was all over the place as I listened to the news, scrolled social media and generally panicked. It never fitted and looked too messy because plain knitting in fine yarn is not tolerant of gauge fluctuations. I frogged it last year and I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to face that yarn again. It may well be headed for a charity shop!
So many of our emotions get tangled up in our knitting don't they. I had to frog the sweater I was working on when my dad died. And I still can't really look at the yarn. It's beautiful stuff but I think I might have to end up giving it away rather than use it again.
I crocheted a blanket that involved making 750 individual flowers using puff stitch (at 1/2 an hour each to make) and then combining them all into a blanket with edging. I am very proud of it, would I make it again - not a chance. I was offered £50 for it at one point, I laughed hysterically as that wouldn’t even cover the yarn. It’s not even big enough to sit on my bed, so hangs over the sofa back. I worked it out at minimum wage and yarn costs - nearly £5K of effort there. It’s not going anywhere. (I have sold others at an effective loss)
Oh my word. I'm with you on the hysterical laughter on that one. I once (briefly) contemplated making a Hexipuff blanket but my sanity returned after I've knitted about 20 of the things and I decided against it
Thank you, it feels good that I have something positive to remember from that time. And my boys have funny memories of artful 'drape-age' over the stairs - ducking out of shot to try and capture the whole thing.
I was somewhat forced into learning to crochet as my mom was on her deathbed with only 7 stitches to complete the wedding for my sister and her wife….. a king size red & white stripe blanket.. I was a long time knitter and while I knew how to make a chain & sc I did not crochet.
My sister in law asked me to finish mom’s project
I said I wasn’t sure I could ~ she felt slighted so sitting beside my semi conscious mom and decided the best way to proceed was to undo 2 stitches hoping I’d be able to construct what I now know is an American dc. There were now only 9 stitches needed to complete this all important and very emotional last gift to my sister from our mom. Mom passed 2 days later. I crotched for a year…. Placemats scarves and eventually I turned to YouTube seeking to learn more and made 4 baby sweaters in 4 days. Eventually I joined a UK based group online and joined a CAL: this was when my magnum opus came to fruition!!!! A very talented designer created The Sophie’s Garden design. More complex than anything my very talented mom had ever made!! I struggled with stitch counts and front & back post treble crochets but I did as much of the pattern as I liked, and folded it up and set it aside… I wanted my finished piece to be a large square and this was changing directions multiple times. Shortly after I joined yet another CAL & found the stitch count I had was the same stitch count for a particular section in this new pattern ~ so I took her out in time out and began adding onto my Sophie’s Garden and finished her using Around the bases pattern! I was so very proud of my accomplishment & also knowing how amazed and proud mom would be.
That's a beautiful story and a real example of how skills are shared, developed and passed on through the generations. I've seen that blanket before and am in awe of anyone who attempts it. My crochet skills are strictly limited to granny squares and straight lines.
I don’t have a comment about a magnum opus, but I think your blanket is beautiful. I hope it brings good memories as well as those you have mentioned. 2020 was a challenging year, for sure!
Thank you. I can look at it fondly now. But I still need to find a way to use it - it's not very practical but my son had the suggestion of folding it in half and buttoning it to stay folded. That way it's a more usable size.
That is an EPIC blanket!! And what a monumental effort. I have painted some murals in a mental health hospital. At the time, I thought I wanted to do more, but now, I think perhaps not 🤣. I was paid for them though so not quite the same. I have just finished illustrating a children’s picture book, that my friend (the author) and I are publishing through our new little publishing company! It has taken soooooo long and has been soooooo hard. There’s very little chance the effort and the time spent will ever ‘pay back’ but I’m also soooooo proud of what we’ve accomplished. It doesn’t feel like it matters, because we’re creating a magical world together 💛
Oh my goodness. That sounds like an amazing project to have done - a real labour of love. How exciting to see it come to fruition
Thank you Louise. Only thing is, I think I might have to do some more 😱😱😱 🤣
I definitely don't have a Magnus opus of anywhere near that scale but I have to say that your blanket is absolutely stunning
Thank you - that's very kind
Wow that’s an amazing piece though! I feel most of my things I make I never want to do again. That said I think mine would have to be a knitted panel of the London Underground I made for my boyfriend of the time’s parents who collected underground posters. It was really fun to figure out all the changes of colour (I designed it myself) but boy was it messy at the back! I’d only recently learned the skill of intarsia so it was very lumpy and bumpy. Part of me would love to do it again just so I can improve upon it (and actually see it again - I’m clearly no longer in touch with the ex’s parents) but part of me thinks “nah I’ve done that now”
Oh wow, that sounds amazing
Just WOW!
My mini- magnum opus is a bright orange wool beanie I knitted 15 years ago during one of my darkest times. It was my first knitting project, with the most basic stitches I learned from my grandma when I was a kid. Knitting proved to be incredibly therapeutic, bringing me a sense of calm. Even though my knitting was uneven and filled with mistakes, I still wear that beanie. It serves as a reminder of the days when I was searching for light at the end of the tunnel...
My magnum opus - a figured "Tree of Life" blanket for which a friend sent me the yarn and the pattern, otherwise I'd never have attempted such a thing. Tiny interlocking cables everywhere, knot-stitching ... ! Picked it up and put it down for several years before I finally finished. Amazed every time I look at it, and: never again.
Oh wow, I’ve seen people share those and always been so impressed. I don’t think it’s ever something I would undertake myself but hats off to you for completing it.
My magnum opus has to be the big blue Doctor Who scarf I made for Alex. It's 28 ft long and I completed it in 6 weeks so we could take it on holiday to Scotland.
Alex is 6 ft 3 and even he had to wrap it round several times, I took a photo of him next to the stormtrooper in a kilt next to Edinburgh Waverley Station - Alex let him wear the scarf and it absolutely dwarfs him!
Oh I remember that scarf. I saw the photos and it just looked amazing. Plus, of course, your son looking so proud in it
Me, with a toddler and a baby on the way: Oh yeah this looks like fun.
Absolutely, with all that acres of free time you'll get 🤣
Haha yeah totally 😅
My magnum opus is not a stitching project but renovating and decorating my house. The house is big. Five bedrooms, one reception, large kitchen diner and two bathrooms. It was in an absolute state when we bought it. We had to take out floors because of dry rot, the original kitchen never even had electricity, the place had mostly not been decorated since the 1930s. You get the picture. We actually bought it because it was cheap, had 10 foot ceilings and large sash windows.
We did the most important decorating before we moved in, then after two years, we had the builders in for tree months and after that I did one room per year. And once I was finished I did quite a few again and after that several again.
Now it is a beautiful house which we love and everyone who visits does too.
But I would never ever take on a project like this again.
Oh my word. I would find something like that so daunting. I struggle with even the mildest form of domestic disruption. Hats off to you for completing it.
I don’t have a magnum opus. I knitted a 4ply sweater for my partner in 2020 which felt like a never ending project. Hours of stocking stitch in the round relieved only by a colourwork neck, hem and cuffs. My gauge was all over the place as I listened to the news, scrolled social media and generally panicked. It never fitted and looked too messy because plain knitting in fine yarn is not tolerant of gauge fluctuations. I frogged it last year and I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to face that yarn again. It may well be headed for a charity shop!
So many of our emotions get tangled up in our knitting don't they. I had to frog the sweater I was working on when my dad died. And I still can't really look at the yarn. It's beautiful stuff but I think I might have to end up giving it away rather than use it again.
I crocheted a blanket that involved making 750 individual flowers using puff stitch (at 1/2 an hour each to make) and then combining them all into a blanket with edging. I am very proud of it, would I make it again - not a chance. I was offered £50 for it at one point, I laughed hysterically as that wouldn’t even cover the yarn. It’s not even big enough to sit on my bed, so hangs over the sofa back. I worked it out at minimum wage and yarn costs - nearly £5K of effort there. It’s not going anywhere. (I have sold others at an effective loss)
Oh my word. I'm with you on the hysterical laughter on that one. I once (briefly) contemplated making a Hexipuff blanket but my sanity returned after I've knitted about 20 of the things and I decided against it
https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/78846028/the-beekeepers-quilt-knitting-pattern
That looks like so much work!
I LOVE. It!!! Such a fascinating idea.
This is a massive achievement in a year like 2020,and it's beautiful to behold! I love the artful photo on the stairs!
Thank you, it feels good that I have something positive to remember from that time. And my boys have funny memories of artful 'drape-age' over the stairs - ducking out of shot to try and capture the whole thing.
Oh my goodness! This is a phenomenal achievement. I just don't have the bandwidth for a huge project but kudos to those who do