I have learned that I can't make a vessel too big or it looses stability. But I set out to make a bowl that had a large base. I wanted to add a second layer of design all the way around as that extra thickness does make the bowl sturdier.
So I set out to work... prepared with an enormous amount of yarn and just kept crocheting and crocheting and crocheting (and a good movie on the TV). The end result was a huge brown blob with red dots measuring 20 inches wide. Based on the 40%shrinkage formula, I was expecting the final bowl to be about 12 inches.
Of course, my prediction was spot on when my husband said, "What is it?" when I showed him the bowl before the wash process. I said, "It will be my biggest bowl ever. Don't you see it?" His eyes just roll at that point.
After 4 wash cycles and shaping/drying process I ended up with a 7 inch bowl. Although it turned out smaller than I had hoped, I was very pleased with the end result and it is just as sturdy as all my other bowls. When I proudly showed my husband his reaction was, "Wow! That shrunk ALOT!"
Yes, it did shrink alot, but I think it is a keeper. I am calling it Cherries Jubilee and I will loving remember this bowl as yet another step in the learning and growing process of my work.
One thing, though. I think I will just give up worrying too much about the outcome as it seems the only thing I can acutally predict accurately is my husband's reaction!
You can purchase this bowl in my etsy shop or you can contact me if you would like something similar. I say similar because, well... I just never know how it will end up!
