After sharing my incomplete crochet projects of 2023, I suppose it’s time to share my favourite crochet projects of 2023!
This past year I crocheted many more love letter book sleeves for gifts and have loved the meditative process of this familiar project. I also tried some new things that I didn’t get around to finishing, mostly due to getting stuck in the design process. But there were also some new things that I did get around to finishing. They’re far from perfect, but I’m (generally) proud of them all the same!
Crochet checker book tote. My biggest project to date! Checker pattern inspired by a knit top I saw on Instagram; shape inspired by the Christian Dior book tote! I am absolutely obsessed with how the checker pattern turned out and I love love loveee the colours.
That said, while the photo may lead you to believe otherwise (thanks to my strategic styling lol), the tote doesn’t have any structure. It’s really more of a hobo bag. The bag is too stretchy, the edges aren’t defined, and the bottom will sag if the things inside are moderately heavy. I probably should have constructed the bag in separate panels and then stitched the panels together for defined edges, rather than do the whole bag in one piece. What can I say? I despise weaving in ends.
I considered ordering a custom-sized bag organiser to give the bag more shape, but I don’t know how much I’m willing to pay for that. Perhaps I could make do with just a bottom insert, but I need to look into what kind of material to use. I also wonder if there’s any extra stitching I can add to give the bag more shape. Please let me know if you have any ideas! Ya girl is stuck! I would love to be able to give this bag enough structure to carry my laptop.
Another improvement I want to make to the bag is attaching D-rings for removable bag straps. Although I can hook a bag strap directly to the bag via the spaces between the crochet stitches, that would definitely stretch out over time.
Great Wave mini tapestry crochet. (Third version of) my first tapestry! I was inspired by the #grannysquarebookchallenge to crochet a little square representing my favourite book in the whole wide world: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. It was a pain in the ass keeping my yarn from tangling, but I’m so proud of my colour-work! It didn’t hit me until I finished my tapestry and looked at it several times over that I should have reversed the order of the background gradient. I don’t know what I was thinking. One day I’ll get around to my fourth version of this tapestry and fix that!
I considered fully participating in the #grannysquarebookchallenge and crocheting a square for every book I read, but I knew I’d stress over keeping up, and tbh not every book deserves the effort of a uniquely designed granny square hahah. I think the most common way people do the #grannysquarebookchallenge is by choosing one granny square pattern and switching up the colours to match their reads but… meh. I would prefer designing unique squares to represent my favourite books!
PS: incomplete crochet projects of 2023, i made a bag and a hat