To crochet with T-string

The last couple of months, a new craze exploded on Ons Hekel.  And who do we have to blame?
Creative, productive OH-member Anneke Wiese, who also happens to live in one of the prettiest places on earth.

So what did she do?

Most  of you would have seen this beautiful doily rug:


Die afgelope paar maande het 'n nuwe gier ontplof op Ons Hekel.  En wie kan ons bedank?
Boland  Kreatiewe, produktiewe OH-lid Anneke Wiese, wat ook op een van die mooiste plekke in die wêreld woon.

So wat het sy begin?

Meeste van jul sou hierdie supermooi doilie-mat al gesien het:

You want to make it, don't you?
www.creativejewishmom.com)

Anneke did too. So she made it, and was featured on Creative Jewish Mom with her beautiful red doily.

And then she started showing us on Ons Hekel what she was doing...

Anneke het ook.  Toe maak sy een, 'n helderrooie, en maak so haar buiging op Creative Jewish Mum se blog.

En toe begin sy ons op Ons Hekel wys...

A green doily rug, from T-String and other stash

A pastel beauty of granny squares

A blue doily, with slab of chocolate for scale :-)

Look, look at the view it has through the door.

She takes her work to to the beach!

Ah...crocheting on the beach, I love that :-)

And even on holiday!  Yeah, the above is where she STAYS.  So what could possibly compete?

Hekel op die strand - hoe lekker is dit?

En selfs op vakansie! Tja, die pragtige plek hierbo is waar sy WOON.  So wat kan  daarmee kompeteer?

How about hooking a doily in Positano?

Hmpf.  Amalfi coast.  Sigh.

Hmpf.  Amalfi-kus.  Sug.

Okay, so I was hooked and quite a few hookers at Ons Hekel as well, and we started buying T-string like crazy.  

First, you have to get good quality T-string.  Zpagetti is great, but a bit scarce and expensive down here in South Africa.  Best option is some who cuts and rolls the fabric herself, to ensure even width and good quality fabric - luckily we have quite a few of those in the group!

Then - get your grip right.  The overhand grip (holding your hook like a knife) is much easier and for us who use that grip anyways - no problem.

A big enough hook.  My nr 10 didn't cut it.  Eventually I evolved to nr 15, although up to nr 20 and 25 were recommended.

So I found great colours at a craft show and happily started out.  No doilies for me, I wanted to try Something Else.

Okei, so is ek en 'n hele paar ander ook gehoek, en ons trek weg; koop T-String.

Maar, eerstens:  Jy moet goeie kwaliteit T-string gebruik.  Zpagetti is wonderlik, maar bietjie skaars en duur hier in Suid-Afrika.  Die beste opsie is om by iemand te koop wat dit self sny en rol - so kry jy vir seker goeie kwaliteit materiaal met eweredige stroke.  Gelukkig het ons klomp diesulkes in die groep!

Tweedens - kry jou greep reg.  Vir die van ons wat oorhands werk (hou die hekelpen soos 'n mes) is dit makliker.

Derdens - 'n groot genoeg pen.  My nr 10 kon nie sy man staan nie.  Uiteindelik het ek gevorder na 'n nr 15, hoewel nrs 20 en selfs 25 aanbeveel is. 

By die Centurion Craft Show het ek 'n handvol mooi kleure gekry en heel optimisties beginne.  Nie 'n doiliemat vir my nie, ék gaan Iets Anders doen.

On track and lookin' good

Oops.  The accent yellow became too much:

Oeps.  Die geel was...te veel. 

(This photo might be upside down :-)

Frogged. 

Version 2...Stilled liked the colours, but...suddenly realised that my melange, which was actually my key colour, was double the width of the rest.

Uitgetrek.

Poging 2...Kleure steeds reg, maar...skielik besef ek die melange, wat die basis moes wees, is twee maal breër as die res.

Better colour, but...Frogged.

And so I went on.  

Took the melange out.
Brought the melange back in.

Changed colour combos - then it look like a muted version of the nation flag.

Frogging frogging frogging

Then I visiting a friend who hosted a T-string workshop presented by the lovely Ronel of Nilla's Needlecraft and the lights went on...

Larger hook (the nr 15).

Different pattern.

And voilà!

En so gaat ek aan.

Haal die melange uit.

Bring dit terug.

Verander kleurkombinasies - maar toe lyk dit soos 'n gedempte weergawe van die landsvlag.

Trek uit trek uit trekuit

En toe hou Ronel van Nilla's Needlecraft 'n T-string werkswinkel en al die liggies gaan aan...

'n Groter pen (die nr 15).

'n Nuwe patroon.

En voilà! 

An African Flower pouffe! 

And so I conquered T-String.

I might not become a regular user, but the concept of baskets etc is enticing...

Thanks for introducing us to T-string, Anneke!

En so het ek T-string oorwin.

Ek gaan dit nie noodwendig gereeld doen nie, maar die idee van 'n mandjie of twee klink goed...

Dankie dat jy ons aan T-string bekendgestel het, Anneke!

The above photo of me and my pouffe was taken by Cornel at Craft Share - have a look at her very pretty blog I Love Pom-Poms and Craft Share Facebook page.

T-String available at many shops now, and also from Hilda at Yarn in a Barn, Ronel at Nilla's Needlecraft, Selma/Anthea at Fifty Something (tel 022-713 5559) (that's Anneke's LYS) and I'll find out where else.  

Die mooie foto hierbo is weereens geneem deur Cornel by Craft Share - besoek haar lieflike blog I Love Pom-Poms and Craft Share Faceboek-blad.

T-string is nou by verskeie winkels beskikbaar, en ook van Hilda by Yarn in a Barn, Ronel by Nilla's Needlecraft, Selma/Anthea by Fifty Something (tel 022-713 5559) (dis Anneke' se LYS) en ek sal uitvind waar nog.