I tried a new crochet technique for my July square: Tunisian crochet, which is also known as Afghan crochet. You pick up the loops on the shaft of the crochet hook and make both a forward and backward pass for each row in this technique which produces a fabric reminiscent of knitting. It’s really easy to pick up when you’re just doing horizontal rows but anything at an angle, as we have here in this (vaguely fascistic?) square from Cheryl Dee Crochet can be tricky, as you can see from the unevenness and, yes, I’m going to say it, holes in the red/orange interfaces. I learned from this square that there is always more than one way to do things in crochet.

I’m still not sure whether it’s possible to turn a corner with Tunisian crochet. I did try but I got stuck, literally, so I had to unravel that and just do a border with normal crochet.

I’m looking forward to trying more Tunisian crochet: I got a book of Tunisian projects for my birthday and I’ve downloaded a pattern to make a cushion cover. My house is going to be so cosy and full of shabby chic handicrafts.

This July in Hong Kong was the hottest it’s been since records began, and also unusually dry, which kept temperatures up apart from two interludes connected to the two typhoon events passing nearby. I have included a purple row to indicate the 36C measured at Hong Kong International Airport (I think) on one day but most of this square is orange and red to correspond to the other data that I’ve been using.

July 2020

HK maximum temp: 36C

HK minimum temp: 26C

Yarns used: Rowan Cotton Glacé shade Persimmon, Rowan Handknit Cotton Shade Rosso, Rowan Handknit Cotton Shade Aubergine