I dreamed about researching tapestry crochet in Finland, but thought it would happen “when pigs fly.” So, when I was invited to teach tapestry crochet at the 2005 Crochet Days Conference in Vaasa/ Vasa, I was inspired to bead tapestry crochet a purse with flying pigs. I worked on the square base before the conference and continued onto the sides in Finland. The instructions for this purse were published by Simply Creative Crochet magazine in 2006.
The type of tapestry crochet done in Finland is similar to that of the rest of Europe. The hook is inserted into the back loop, which produces a cloth with wonderful drape and the front loop forms a horizontal line under each row of single crocheted stitches. The colored yarns are worked very efficiently by placing them on either side of the finger.
Tapestry crocheted cuffs are very popular in Finland.
A (right-handed) conference participant showed me how to switch colors back and forth (without dropping and picking them up for each color change) on my “Flying Pigs” bag. (I was actually working 3 colors for this bag, but her demo was for 2 colors, so please ignore the pink thread.) This method works well for quickly switching colors back and forth, but is awkward for crocheting several stitches at a time. As seen below, one color is secured on the front of the left forefinger and the other on the back, then fancy hook work allows one thread to be carried while the other is worked.
To change color, yarn over with white (ignore the pink thread).
Continue to single crochet with white while working around blue.
If you would like to give it a try, instructions for these cuffs (by Jeanette Rönnqvist-Aro) are in Luutonen and Bäckman’s 2003 book, DECORATIVE CROCHETING. Mittens, bags, and Korsnäs sweaters are also included.
The 2005 Crochet Days Conference was sponsored by Loftet and the Finnish Crafts Organization.
After presenting a slide lecture about the history of tapestry crochet, I led two bead tapestry crochet workshops to students who could tapestry crochet circles around me! Inserting the hook under two loops and incorporating beads was different for them, though, so they were very excited to learn something new. As usual, I learned a lot, to!
Students bead tapestry crochet a small basket.
Maarit Aalto wrote her master’s thesis about tapestry crochet
and also taught it at the conference.
After the conference we visited Korsnäs, famous for marrying knitting and tapestry crochet. That will be the topic of my next blog.
In that case, I’m sure you would enjoy the “Decorative Crocheting” book that I mentioned (ISBN 951-96888-4-6) because it has a great history section and some wonderful patterns.
This was so awesome to find to read as my grand mother came to America from Finland when she was 18 years old, through Ellis Island, with nothing more than a Finnish/English dictionary. She knew how to knit and crochet but had no written directions, she just had all the patterns in her head. I wish I had known her when she was younger so we could have talked about needlework, but by the time I was born, she was already an old lady with altzheimer’s and didn’t make much sense of anything. I dream of going to Finland and finding my relatives that I know live there now. Thank you for telling us about your experience there.
I still switch my thread for each color change, wrapping it around my fingers each time. I thought I would include the information in case some people would like to try it, though, since it would be much quicker when mastered.
The photos on holding the 2 threads were a godsend: I had invented my own particular choreography for switching colours, but it did not work for long stretches of colour. This method is incredibly fast and it DOES work for long stretches of colour! Thank you!
Can you tell me where I can find the pattern for the patriotic bag. I just love it! Please email me back and let me know. Thank you!
You can see where all of my patterns have been published at https://www.carolventura.com/pubs.html. The Special Stitches: Patriotic Stars project was published in ANNIE’S FAVORITE CROCHET, June 2005: pages 38-40. Thanks for asking!
I saw your Flying Pigs purse last year through a window. Went inside to inquire, and was told the maker couldn’t remember where she got the pattern. Flying pigs are my favorite, for the same reason you say you made the pattern in the first place! How can I get this pattern?
The “When Pigs Fly Beaded Bag” pattern was published in 2006 in SIMPLY CREATIVE CROCHET, 2006. Unfortunatly, the magazine is no longer published and they hold the copyright, so I cannot send you a copy of the instructions. Perhaps you can find the magazine on EBay. SIMPLY CREATIVE CROCHET was an annual, not monthly magazine. I’ve had lots of requests for this pattern!
I have not crocheted gloves, but Danielle Kassner has some wonderful glove patterns . Her blog is at https://crochetcodex.blogspot.com/
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR WORK ! I AM AN ARGENTINIAN TEACHER OF ENGLISH AND FRENCH IN MY COUNTRY AND IN MY FREE TIME I LOVE CROCHETING. NOW I WOULD LIKE TO CROCHET GLOVES BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO VISIT CANADA FOR THE FIRST TIME AND THEY TOLD US IT IS REALLY COLD THERE. HAVE YOU GOT ANY PATTERNS AND EXPLANATIONS FOR ME PLEASE ?
I found my way to this page after searching for the book, Decorative Crocheting.(found it before arriving here) Love those Flying Pigs.
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