That’s what I call this:

It’s sole purpose is to spread color and joy.

I generally used a 4.0 mm, 4.25 mm or 4.5 mm hook, acrylic yarn (my favorite is Red Heart Super Saver) and a 7″ or 9″ ring. I start by covering the ring with single crochet stitches (I bring the yarn around twice and then go through the three loops that are on the hook. This fills in the space on the ring more completely than a regular single crochet does).

I then join with a slip stitch to the first stitch made and crochet around with a single, half double, or double crochet stitch depending on how stiff I want it to be (the shorter the stitch, the stiffer the fabric) and how much time I have (double crochet goes the fastest, but half double gives a very nice look and is substantially quicker than a single crochet).

I also use these creations to experiment with different techniques that intrigue me but with which I am not as familiar as I would like to be.

In this project, I worked with curlicues and flowers:

The curlicues were of my own design, but the pattern for the flowers is from Leisure Arts Cool Stuff: Teach Me to Crochet: 14 Projects.

Geared toward middle-school-aged girls, it is an excellent introduction to crochet for people of all ages, and Sue Galucki, the editor, has done an excellent job organizing the projects so that each builds on previously learned skills.

Here are some closeups of a flower I made using the pattern from this book:

One day I will finish enough of these “joi du jois” that I will be able to decorate my entire porch in a panoply of color and joy.