REVIEW - DMC Baroque Thread

Selection of projects I've completed in DMC - Baroque Thread - Size 10

Ecru:

• Emily, Japanese Pineapple, Tovi, Mint Crystal, Elysium, Bubble Tea, Moonpetals

White:

• Emily, Mako, Autumn Reflections, Winter

Review

I started using DMC Baroque thread after finding some skeins from my mom's crochet thread stash. She had bought the thread at a LYS a few years ago. After I used up her four skeins, I bought a few more through Joann's website while it was on sale. 

My favorite color out of the two available is Ecru, which is a beige color. I've never been a fan of white, since it's very obvious when it starts to yellow or gets stains, and Ecru is the closest to an off-white for DMC Baroque. 

Baroque has a thick texture. So after I started to use Baroque more, I realized that I needed to use larger hooks (2.25mm) in order to not have my doily pieces ruffle. Since I did use a larger hook when I used Baroque, my pieces also had larger diameters than listed. 

I think DMC's Baroque would be an ideal thread for bedspreads or something flat. In my opinion, it's not ideal for mini amigurumi or textured doilies due to the feel of the thread. 

Conclusion

Overall, Baroque has a wonderful sheen and thick texture, as it is highly mercerized. It's tightly spun but still soft to the touch. It has a nice feel to use and it's one of my favorites to use. Although the color variety is very limited (currently, it is only available in 2 colors - White and Ecru/Beige), unlike other threads that have a range of colors. That is my reasoning for a 4.5 out of 5 star review, as I got quickly bored of only being able to select from only 2 colors. Baroque used to come in pink, but pink has long been discontinued. 

However, one advantage is that DMC's threads are widely available through Big Box stores and via the manufacturer within the United States. 

Product Information

Brand: DMC
Name: Baroque
Fiber Content: 100% Super Mercerized Cotton 
Weight/Ply: Size 10 Crochet Thread/3 ply
Country of Origin: Made in India
Price per ball (April 2018): $4.29/ball - 416 yds
Where to Buy: Michaels, Joann's, DMC website, Amazon

Overall Rating

4.5 out of 5 Meow-Meows

Crocheting in Russian

Yesterday, I found a pattern by Ukrainian designer - Holly by Viktoriia Gul. I've always admired her work, and she's just started designing her own doily pieces recently. I saw Holly and I really wanted to make it, but the problem was that she only wrote the pattern in Russian. Crochet terminology, as fiber artists know, is a completely different language in itself.

Usually, this would not be a problem since many Russian and Eastern European designers chart their patterns rather than write them, to make the instructions universal.  However, as a new designer myself, I've realized how hard it is just to write a crochet pattern that I couldn't imagine trying to chart it, especially since my designs are textured and not flat like many charted patterns.

So I did more research on Russian crochet terminology. What I found out was that there's not a good resource for translating patterns from Russian to English. Here's what I gathered from Holly to use on other patterns as well.

I don't know any Russian, so please use this translation below at your own risk. I plan on updating this list as I try out more written Russian patterns. :)

Russian to American Crochet Terminology Translation

Соединить = Join

Начальный = chainless 

Начальный ССН = Chainless Starting Double Crochet (CSDC)
HCCH = CSDC

Basic Stitches

CT = skip

ССТ = SLST

ВП  = chain

СБН = SC

ПСН = HDC (half double crochet)

CCH = DC (double crochet)

CC2H = TR (triple crochet)

CC3H = DTR (double treble crochet)

CC4H = TRTR (triple treble crochet)

Кластер = cluster

Кластеров = clusters

Попкорн = popcorn

Попкорнов = popcorns

Сплит = split

Сплитов = splits

арки= space

арок = spaces

РЛ = FP (Front Post)

РИ = BP (Back Post)

пико = picots 

Decreases
Убавка-2-СБН = SC2TOG

Убавка-3-СБН = SC3TOG

Directions (not stitches)

в = in or into

соединить в кольцо. = in the circle (to start doily)

Отметить = mark (for special stitch or next rounds)

вокруг  = around

вокруг начального = around the first stitch

ССТ в 1-ю арку = slst into space

в ту же арку = in same space

в ту же арку куда был провязан последний = in previous space just used

в последнюю арку предыдущего ряда = in previous space of last row

в следующую арку = in next space

в последнюю арку предыдущего ряда и следующую арку = in previous space and next space

Last updated: April 23rd, 2018

REVIEW - Hobby Lobby's Artiste Cotton Crochet Thread

Projects I've completed in Artiste - Mercerized Egyptian Cotton Thread - Size 10 (from left to right)

• "Persephone" in Jade Blue
• "Florence" in Cornflower
• "Daisy" in Eggnog
• "Rooibos" in Peach Blossom
• "Bergamot" in Eggnog
• "Lilla" in Peach Blossom

Review

I first heard about Hobby Lobby's crochet thread through Facebook (the Threadies and Grace Fearon groups). Hobby Lobby is a large chain of arts and crafts stores located throughout the United States, like Michaels or Joann's. I was doubtful at first if my local Hobby Lobby would have the Artiste thread at all, since I live in what I would call, a "yarn desert," with only one LYS for hundreds of miles. 

When I became more advanced in my thread crochet techniques, I started to realize how limited "threadies" are in their thread selection. Most LYS don't stock crochet thread at all, and Big Box stores all stock the same type of thread (Aunt Lydia's, Red Heart.... and that's about it). 

I heard Hobby Lobby was having sale on Artiste Threads, and so I decided to check out my local Hobby Lobby for the first time. Towards the back of the store was a threadies' paradise. 🤩My dream come true - a wide variety of colors and more than one ball of each color! 

As soon as I brought my newfound thread home, I started making my second Persephone. I quickly realized that I needed to use a larger hook than usual (my go-to hook is a 1.75mm, but I had to use my 2.0mm and 2.25mm hooks for this thread). Artiste reminds me of Knitpicks Curio thread, but higher quality and thicker. Curio is not quite size 10 thread, but Artiste Egyptian Cotton is most definitely size 10 thread.  

Conclusion

Overall, Artiste's Cotton Crochet Thread is great for threadies out there that need a larger color palette in their doilies/table runners/etc. There are 38 colors available through Hobby Lobby's website. If you're not sure how the color would look in a project, there are thousands of crochet projects on Ravelry using Artiste thread. 

It's very affordable (it's regularly on sale for about $2 USD) and widely available across the U.S. The thread has a strong enough twist to hold up and not split while crocheting, but has a soft feel and sheen. It's a high quality thread, not something just made in China or India, but in Turkey. 

So far, this is my favorite thread to use to date. I definitely see myself going back to buy another 20 (or maybe even 40) balls of thread for my crochet stash. 

Product Information

Brand: Artiste
Name: Cotton Crochet Thread
Fiber Content: 100% Mercerized Egyptian Cotton 
Weight/Ply: Size 10 Crochet Thread/3 ply
Country of Origin: Made in Turkey from Egyptian Cotton
Price per ball (April 2018): $2.89/ball - 350yds (colors); 400yds (white)
Where to Buy: Hobby Lobby website & stores across the U.S.

Overall Rating

5 out of 5 Meow-Meows

REVIEW SERIES - Crochet Thread

I'm going to start a new review series of crochet threads that I've used, since I have seen reviews online for knitting yarn and knitting products (like Knitter's Review), but reviews for crochet products are rare to find, especially for us threadies out there. :) I hope to continually update this series as I go along in my crochet thread journey. 

DISCLAIMER: These reviews will solely be based on my opinion and mine alone. I was not paid or sponsored to make these reviews, nor was I provided these yarns by the brand. These skeins/balls were bought with my own money. I am writing reviews in order to help others decide which thread they'd like to use for their projects. 


Outlook on reviews to come (links will be added)

• Alize Miss Batik
• Artiste Mercerized Egyptian Cotton Size 10
• Aunt Lydia's Thread Size 10 
• DMC Cébélia 10 
• DMC Cébélia 30
• DMC Coton Perlé 12
• DMC Baroque
• Lizbeth Thread 20
• Knitpicks Curio Thread
• Mondial Nilo 12
• Rico Essentials Crochet Thread
• R.B C Fil D Ecosse N°16 
• Scheepjes Sugar Rush

On another note: I am currently updating my website format (to make it look prettier and more professional). Please bare with me as I adjust the pattern pages this following week. I promise that these new pages will be better than before! :) 

Irish Style Magic Loop

I've got a new tutorial for everyone regarding crochet and starting a thickened magic loop circle. I learned this technique from an Irish Flower crochet pattern online. I like using this method for my doilies that start with single stitches (like Mint Crystal or Petals).  It is an alternative way to start a doily (similar result to doing a CH 7, slst in first chain, but without the run on top of the round).

I am using a 2.0mm hook with a thickened end (if you have a regular steel hook with no cushion, you can use a pencil or pen).

First, wrap your yarn around the end of the crochet hook five times.

Then, insert your hook into the circle, YO, pull loop up.

For SCs: CH 1, 16 SCs in loop 

For DCs: CSDC, 15 DCs in loop

And there you go! :) You've started an Irish-style cast on for one of my doilies (or any type of doily!)