Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Hmmmmmph...

Just spent a few hours working on a mitten that works well.

I'm not convinced it exists yet...

Saturday, January 21, 2012

SIMPLE SHAWL *update*

SIMPLE SHAWL

I loved coming up with this alternative wrap - it's in a nice gritty wool so it's warm, but the stitches you choose give it special character. I am making another one that has two buttons at the top of one side so it can be buttoned in place across your shoulders.

*I've bumped this back to the top because I just noticed, as I get ready to do another one in a different color, that I did not write the pattern here.*






Materials:
1 skein Lyon Brand Fisherman's wool (I used )
K 101/6.5mm Hook

Notes: sample gauge 4 stitches = 2"
x stitches will stand up as you go, but it's good to check how they're looking every 10 stitches or so.

Special stitches:
Seed stitch: sc, dc in same stitch, skip a stitch, sc, dc in next stitch
Medium x: skip a stitch, dc in stitch, dc in skipped stitch.
Large x: skip a stitch, dc in stitch pulling up one loop and leaving one on, begin another dc in same stitch pulling up one loop, then yarn over and pull through 3 remaining loops. Repeat the stitch in the skipped stitch

Note: feel free to switch combinations of stitches, just be aware that the chain up at the end will be shorter or longer depending on the size of the next row of stitches. For example, you only need to chain up one stitch for a seed stitch, but you will need three chains up for a new row of medium or large x stitches, or for a row of doubloe crochets.

Glossary:
ch = chain
st = stitch
sc = single crochet
dc = double crochet
tc = triple crochet
mx = medium x
lx = large x


Chain 120
1. sc in same st, sc in each st to end, ch 1, turn
2. Seed stitch across to end, ch 1, turn
3. Seed stitch across to end, ch 3, turn
4. small x across to end, ch 3, turn
5. medium x across to end, ch 3, turn
6. small x across to end, ch 1, turn
7. seed stitch across to end, ch 3, turn
8. dc across to the end, ch 3, turn
9. medium x across to end, ch 3, turn
10. small x across to the end, ch 1
11-12. seed stitch across to the end, ch 1, turn
13 seed stitch across to the end, ch 3, turn
14-21. dc across to the end, ch 3, turn
22-23. seed stitch across to the end, ch 1, turn
24. seed stitch across to the end, ch 3, turn
25. small x across to the end, ch 3, turn
26. large x across to the end, ch 1, turn
27. seed stitch across to the end,
finish by sc in each stitch down the side you've ended on, tie off and weave in.
finish other side by sc in each st down the side, tie off and weave in.

Friday, January 20, 2012

If you like something you see

If you like something you see and want one, shoot me an email. I'm very cheap, and I can help you pick a yarn for the project.  Toodles!

Thursday, January 19, 2012

In case you think I've been slacking off No. 2

Gossamer Blue scarf



I couldn't help falling for this super-soft baby bamboo yarn. It's like working with gossamer. Working with it was a little daunting after playing around with lots of chunky yarns. The bamboo was so soft and light.

I used this: bamboospun yarn in denim.

The pattern is a basic one that makes the most of an already-textureful yarn. I've played with front-loop/back-loop stitching as parts of other patterns, but don't usually find attractive except in a case like this.

Here is a good basic tutorial on making a back-loop stitch:



Chain however long you want - I chained about 153.

1. dc in third chain from hook. dc in each stitch to end. Chain 3, turn.
2. dc in back loop of each dc to end. Chain 3, turn.
3. - 5. repeat row 2 to the desired width. I went for length over width with this one, so my scarf is only 4 rows.

Tadah!

In case you think I've been slacking off No. 1

Catepillar:

I used a ball of Yarn Bee fancy, which is a medium-weight "yarn" I picked up at Hobby Lobby. It was so soft and fleecy and colorful that I couldn't resist, and here's what I came up with.

chain 83.

1. dc in third chain from hook; *chain 1, skip a stitch, dc in next stitch*. Repeat ** to end. Chain 4, turn.
2. dc in dc, chain one, dc in next dc. Repeat to end, tie off and weave in.

Easy!





Update PS:  You can find yarns like the one above at Hobby Lobby here: Hobby Lobby specialty yarn "Chinchilla"

Theresa is a goddess.

check out the v cluster stitch here and the treble crochet front post stitch in the suggested videos on the side:



You can see this and more at the BellwetherCreations Youtube channel.