In this issue you'll learn about an old-world embroidery technique that is surprisingly similar to crochet and can add beautiful detail to your projects. Then, you can give it a try with our beautiful pansy Tambour Work Doily pattern. You'll also read four heartwarming stories about crocheters who are making a difference for others, and get some helpful advice from readers who share their tips for crochet success. And, last but not least, you can stitch up a colorful tulip afghan to dress up your spring and summer decor.

Experimenting With Tambour Work
Tambour work is a type of Oriental embroidery that is closely related to crochet and considered to have most directly influenced the development and spread of crochet lace patterns. Heralded in the mid-1700s as "the new Chinese needlework," tambour's origins have been traced to China, Turkey, Persia, India and North Africa.

It was first introduced to Europe through Saxony and Switzerland. There, it was worked only on white muslin and cambric with white thread and used to embellish dresses, curtains, caps, borders and a variety of other white trimmings. However, the original Oriental tambour work was much more colorful.

The peasants of these European countries did such excellent work with their newly found skill that their work was eagerly bought not only on the continent but shipped back to the East, from whence it originated.

Tambour embroidery is worked with a hook almost identical to a crochet hook except that it generally has a sharper point at the tip for piercing the fabric upon which it is worked. The desired design is first sketched on a background material, and the fabric is then stretched on a tambour frame ("tambour" is the French word for "drum"). The thread is held underneath the fabric, the hook is inserted down into the fabric and a loop of the thread is drawn through to the right side of the fabric.

The tambour hook and crochet hook are almost identical in design	Tambour is worked on fabric stretched over a hoop

The hook is then inserted a little further along the fabric, the thread from underneath is drawn through the fabric and through the loop on the hook. The work progresses in this manner until the desired design has been completed. It is thought that at some point in time -- probably the end of the 18th century -- the fabric was eliminated and the stitch was worked on its own, developing into what the French called "crochet in the air."

It is thought the tambour technique led to crochet when stitchers just kept tambouring off the edge of the hoop, creating "stitches in the air."

In the late 1920s, McCall's introduced at least one transfer pattern for a technique they described as "crocheted chain embroidery for table linen." The advertising stated, "The crocheted chain-stitch used for this table set is something new, though suggested by the old tambour work of our great-grandmothers. It is most interesting to do and quicker with the crochet hook than with an embroidery needle." Their pattern called for size 5 pearl cotton and a size 7 or 8 steel crochet hook.

You can use tambour crochet (or "surface chain") to decorate almost anything you can embroider, from clothing to a variety of home accessories. If you've never tried this technique, our beautiful Tambour Work Doily might inspire you to give it a try.

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Try the Tambour Technique in a Pretty Pansy Doily
The delicate butterfly taking center stage in this lovely pansy doily calls for two strands of embroidery floss and a size 10 steel crochet hook, but you'll want to adjust the weight of the thread and the size of the hook to be appropriate for the fabric on which you will working when you create your own tambour work projects.

Try to keep your stitches small and uniform in size. Our pattern uses an iron-on transfer for the butterfly design, but if you're artistically inclined, you might want to try drawing your own designs on fabric. Our instructions also call for a purchased hem-stitched linen circle, but you can easily create your own following the tips in our article "Crocheting on Fabric" in the February 10, 2009 issue.

Whether you try our butterfly-and-pansy doily or create your own artistic design, I hope you'll enjoy experimenting with the tambour technique. You'll find you can add an exciting new dimension to your crochet.

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In the Wonderful World of Crochet
I always enjoy reading stories about crocheters who are using their stitching skills to make life better for people in need. Crocheters are such compassionate and industrious folks who always find new or unique ways to help others with their crochet, like those in the following stories.

Hung Up on Hats
Meet a man who tirelessly crochets hats and gives them away to residents in some of the poorest neighborhoods in his community. He has a unique approach for distributing his caps. Read his story here.

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Creature Comforts: Plastic-Bag Teddy Bears
This dedicated Canadian sends crochet comfort to children in third world countries in an unusual form: cuddly teddy bears crocheted from recyclable plastic milk bags. She has also coordinated dozens of volunteer groups that make sleeping mats and other items from the bags for people in poor countries around the world. Click here for the story.

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Gifts of Love for Tiny Tots
Refusing to leave her husband's room at a local nursing center, this woman's story of love and dedication goes even deeper as she spends her time at his bedside crocheting almost nonstop to create blankets, dresses and hats for babies who have no one at all. Read more about her inspiring gifts of love here.

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"Lost Art" Finds a Purpose
To many of today's kids, crochet or knitting may be a lost art, but these students have found a way to use these skills to help the homeless and elderly in their community. Find out how.

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Making It Work
Talking Crochet readers certainly are ingenious at finding little ways to make their crochet projects go more smoothly. I always enjoy receiving e-mails with their personal tips for success in their crochet work. Here are a few I hope you will find useful.

Avoiding Yarn Tangles

From Susan G.:

I always got very frustrated whenever I used a skein of yarn that pulls from the center because ultimately the inside strand always got tangled with the loose end on the outside of the skein. I discovered that placing a rubber band around the skein band helped "tame the tangle" by preventing the outside end from coming loose and tangling with the inside strand, especially as you near the end of the skein. It really does work and makes my crocheting more enjoyable.

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Matching Patching

From Angela R.:

Whenever I make an afghan or sweater, I single crochet the seams together rather than slip stitching or sewing them. That way, if an area of the item needs to be repaired, there is already enough yarn in the item to fix it. Just pull out the seam, fix the trouble and use a whipstitch to sew the seam back together. This has the added advantage of using yarn that has faded with the rest of the item so repairs are matched precisely and remain unseen.

From Nancy J.:

A tip I was taught many years ago is very handy when crocheting any item that has to be sewn together. When you finish an item, weave a matching piece of yarn securely and invisibly into a seam. Then if a repair is needed, the yarn will have been washed and handled the same as the item, and you can make the repair without worrying about matching yarn.

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The Dreaded Swatches: From Drudgery to Dynamite!

From Marlene B.:

I always hated making test swatches for my crochet projects, but I knew they were necessary if I wanted the patterns to come out correctly. I finally decided to start putting my swatches to good use and have found several ways to use them creatively. I now make all my swatches the same size (about 3 inches square) and save them in a plastic tote.

To make a colorful blanket, I edge all of the swatches in the same color, sew or crochet them together and add a pretty edging. I have also made patchwork pillows and tote bags this way. To dress up clothing and accessories, I add a decorative edging to the swatches that's either crocheted or made with a variety of purchased trims, plus buttons, ribbon, beads or other embellishments, and sew these fancy "patches" to sweatshirts, jackets, jeans, purses, scarves, hats -- just about anything! My granddaughters love them.

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Stitch a Cheery Tulip Afghan
With spring finally well underway, colorful flowers are beginning to blossom everywhere. Flowers always renew and revitalize the world around us and help lift our spirits after the dark doldrums of winter.

Like our beautiful tambour-work pansy doily, our Flowers on the Fence afghan also features a popular spring flower with its cheery rows of colorful tulips. Can't you just see this pretty piece displayed in a light, airy garden room or sun porch? It will really bring the essence of an outdoor flower garden indoors. Enjoy!

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