what's been on my hooks

Got another c2c done.. well half of one lol... had an order for a shawl.. tried at least 5 other patterns.. just wasn't feeling right.. set it aside to rethink it yet again

picked up the c2c I've been working on here and there.. the second photo.. more on that in a second..

I hit me right away.. it would work using a c2c stitch.. I love the cozy feel of it.. took one skein of reddish orange,  2 skeins of green and one light purple all Simply Soft by Caron, on a size J/10-6.00 mm hook.. have about 60 hours tied into it.. so much for c2c being fast lol.. really it did go quick once I picked the right pattern.. close to 200 squares of 3 dc's and a ch3 across the top.. didn't get the measurements, almost forgot the photo.. wove in ends sitting in the van just before handing it off lol 

This c2c I started to use up the older yarn I have been gifted.. going to take a few more of them to get it used but we get a nice cozy warm blanket out of it and the yarn doesn't get wasted.. after waiting all those years it would be a real shame not to use it right..  :D

this wrap was also created to use up some of the "funky" yarns I have been gifted.. also to learn new techniques.. this is what got me thinking about weaving again.. The body is crocheted with a large hook.. Q 15.75 mm using super bulky chanel yarn.. thinner yarn is than woven in between the stitches.. no clue what kind of yarn that was.. didn't have a label on it.. it goes from thick to thin and is on the fuzzy side.. I used eyelash for the crocheted over laid stitching.. and another type of chanel ( dark blue and thinner ) for the embroidered roses... I added a trim of fuzzy/metallic along all edges.. the fringe is of the woven yarn and some blue super saver I had that matched..

I learned a lot of new skills and used a lot of yarn I had no clue what to do with  ... now to add taking a good photo to my list of thing to do..  like I haven't been trying for years   lol

It really did come out nicer that this makes it look.. Really

 

Yet another project I'm working on.. got them ready for yarn.. hopefully they will see my feet some time soon ;)

 

Funky flowered fingerless gloves

Been seeing the prettiest flowered fingerless gloves going around online lately.. true works of art..

I want a pair for myself but no way can I toss that kind of cash at them right now, even though they are more than worth it..

will have to make my own..

I have never embroidered with yarn.. dang it's been a good thirty years since I have with floss.. I cross stitch every few years, while there are some similarities the skills needed for each are as different as knitting and crochet.. sure you can get a sweater from each using yarn.. you get my drift ..right

So touching up on embroidery skills is a must.. but I have this list of things I want to do.. I can get lost in all of the patterns I want to try or make with ease.. a crafting list is a must

 

Funky Flowered Fingerless gloves have been on that list for awhile now..

 

the plan was to make different flowers, learning new skills as I went along..

very close to what is needed to make the others.. only these are to be bulky, bold, wild flowers with no rhyme or reason.. not classy and stunning... lol

 

I had planned on a black set of gloves..  

but that would take time to make ..

 I didn't want to wait..

you know how it is when you have to try a pattern or new skill..

NOW

yeah like that..

 

I look over and see a pair of gloves I put together to make a pattern customer happy.. she wanted extra long thumb gussets..

these were nothing I was going to put out for sale or even use myself as they were a bit too big..

 

due to this I had grabbed multi colored yarn I was gifted.. because it was close..

I really wanted to get it over with.. I had a ton of orders to get done..  it was a free pattern to begin with..

 I had tried explaining how to go about it with no luck.. hope she was happy with the make over.. never heard back from her come to think of it

 

so why not use them instead of letting them sit any longer..

 

Now if you start with gloves in purples, pinks, grays and browns you can pretty much figure funky is defiantly in the cards.. right

 

 

I had no care what the colors of the flowers were..
 just grabbed out of my jug of small yarn balls and went for it
 

 

                                                with this added in funky got a tad crazier..
I tried every kind of flower and leaf I felt like.. no rhyme or reason at all yep..  it shows LOL...
I learned so much.. They are down right ugly .. didn't bother weaving in ends just tied them off.. the extra yarn made them fit better... you know what they are so frigging comfy I am shocked..
                                                                    I LOVE THEM
                                                   

 

 

Ok with that out of my system it was time to get down to business ..

learning even more stitches and how to do them on yarn properly instead of such a mish mash..

 

I made a short pair of fingerless gloves ( pattern to come soon ) and put yucca's on them .. our state flower..   

 

I used Lion Brand Homespun.. not sure of the color way as it was gifted to me without the label, but to me it has the look of a New Mexican sunset ..

that and I didn't have any black yarn.. can you believe it.. I had small ball of it here and there, none matching and not enough to even make this short of a glove.. ugh

They worked out pretty good though

still not what I'm looking for so onward

 

 

Something else on my crafting to do list was putting together a simple weaving loom..

frame style..

I used to make rugs years ago before we got Little Dog and she decided that every rug was her personal potty mat :(

 

Have always wanted to weave some bags and wall hangings..

why not do it now and practice weaving and embroidery at the same time..

 great way to use up some of the older yarn gifted to me..

 

 

 

 

I picked a off pinkish almost sandy color for the background ( weaving ) part..

if you live or have visited New Mexico in the spring you know this is the color of the sky for at least part of most days ..

 for the rest of you think high winds with sand mixed in yet some how the sun shines through..

 

All of our flowers are now getting set to bloom..

 so here's my start of Spring Flowers in New Mexico.. 

                          I have no clue where I'm going with this.. I'm just along for the ride lol

Filet Crochet Cross Chart

Filet crochet has been on my "to learn" list for ages now..

 this is my first go at making my own ..

started out simple..

with time allowing I hope to get more complex designs going although I plan on keeping them to a smaller size..

 we'll see how it goes..

                                                             not pressed in this photo

I then added a few leaves a vine and a rose, after putting a single crochet overlay around the cross..

 

I used a size US B1/2.25mm hook and size 10 crochet cotton thread.. each block is 3 dc's ( last on counting as the first in the next ).. it can be used in other counts.. however you like.. I had learned this method with a bookmark I had just done so gave it a whirl.

Lemon peel hood

Still playing with the lemon peel stitch.. put together this quick hood

 

Super easy .. this one is child sized..


Gauge is not essential

size can be changed by sticking to a even count of foundation chains plus one turning chain, adding as many or few rows as you like

Written using American terms

Worked in the Lemon peel stitch = sc1, dc1 every row ( a known stitch pattern )
Use any yarn you like with corresponding hook size... I used worsted weight ( a bit on the light side of the scale though ) and an I/9-5.50 mm hook


Stitches

ch = chain

sc = single crochet

dc = double crochet


1) ch to the length needed ( make sure it's a odd number ) .. from middle of the back od head, where seem will be to the front edge around face.. with mind I added a couple of rows of dc's after seaming if you choose to do so adjust length accordingly .. mine was 29 stitches

2) sc into second chain from hook, dc next stitch continue with sc one, dc one to end 

3) chain 1, *sc 1, dc1* repeat to end of row 

repeat row 3 until you reach the size you want folded in half

seam up the back

add two rows of sc around the front edge

I did the ties using a size Q hook with three strands held together, chained 25 and fasten off

fasten off weave in ends


Tips

each sc will have a dc worked in it, as each dc will have a sc worked in it

you will always end row with a dc 

scrap yarn ends

From my first knitting project I have been saving all of my tail ends of 2 -12 inches after weaving in.. anything longer gets added into other projects

 

I tie them together and roll in to small balls to be add to the larger one later on.... as the large one now weights a few pounds so I don't keep it in my yarn bag any more.. tried just keeping the scraps in a bag but after tying them for a whole day I thought tying as I am weaving un ends and joining them together later was the way to go lol

This is my second large ball of knotted yarn ends..  the first I used after one year of saving them

I made them into a scrap wrap couple of feet wide and some where near six foot long

 

I would get stopped every time I went out wearing it.. how did I do that where can they find yarn like that.. even offers to buy it..

clearly the photos here are not doing it justice..

after getting stopped so many times it was starting to wear on husbands nerves, who is not a fun person to take shopping at the best of times .. I decided to hang it over one of our windows..

at least we got to sit down when answering the questions this way ;)

 

it stayed in that job for years in one form or other, sometimes on the couch or chair, then back to the window..

until the few scraps of wool caught the eye of a moth.. :(

ate through it in a few places..

I repurposed it into a doggie blanket for it's last few months..

 

 

I still haven't picked a pattern for the next ball but should have enough to cover a rather large window at this point lol

 

 

 

I joined a couple crochet groups on Facebook awhile ago to see what the rest of the crafters were up to..

love it.. the sharing and good spirits of helping each other is so wonderful ..

one of the things I see shared often are crocheted graphs.. over the top amazing works of art

 

Now it has been ages since I knit using a simple graph..

never even tried it with crochet..

also never tried c2c...

 

add on the fact that I was given so much yarn, in the last two years, that were either small amounts of leftovers or very old.. Ok have to go into a side note here.. this could really be a post of it own lol

 

I am a big fan of old acrylic yarns.. they hold up so well, and some make the best scrubbies.. still have a shawl my mother made me over 30 years ago in great shape..

 the yarn that is suitable for scrubbies has been set aside as a rare find these days I am not willing to part with any of it lol

 

check out some of these labels .. we are talking yarn from the 80's

How cool is that :D

on the inside is a date of 87

I haven't even heard of some of these before..

 

I wanted to do something special with these.. someone held on to them for decades keeping them clean and safe..

 

then it hit me I knew what I wanted to make

 

We lost our Chillie last month, just after his 21 birthday..

 

 

I made my first c2c scrapgan in his honor...

he spent the last few years of his life living it his way..

flat out would not come in except when we could forced him to.. he's some how find a way out within a day or so.. he never left the yard, spent most of his time hunting mice in the garden or enjoying the catnip planted for him.. I made him come in during storms if we could catch him.. he would make it easier when he knew the forth of July or New year was coming.. but not Halloween.. and that was a must be in time for a black cat.. this last year he didn't fight came in on his own.. still got out two days later lol...

I'll post the graph and colors later on

 

I got a bit emotional talking about Chill forgot to include why the scrap ends and the graph tied in...

being the first I've made I was learning as I went along..

 not having a real plan in mind other than a shadow of a black cat with some kind of background .. I just grabbed colors and worked it in as I went..

we live on the side of the Organ mts. and sat out there with Chillie watching the moon rise often .. he would sit by one of the trees ( so we couldn't catch him lol )

after all of the switching of colors to get a changing night sky look I had 150 ends to weave in..

I still need to add a border so there will be a few more.. all added to my now even bigger scrap ball

 

give your fur babies a hug for me and Chill   

Another go at textured scarf

I really like the lemon peel stitch.. really gives a nice over all look so easily .. wanted to give it another go.. in the future I am sure this this will be coming up again lol

This scarf is hade using the same amount of stitches ( link to pattern below ) as the last.. I changed the hook to a H8/5.00 mm..
        quick side note so loving my Susan Bates hooks for loose yarn like this especially

I was going through my yarn bins, when I came across a item I had set aside, as it didn't suit the person I was planning on gifting it to.. a bit dishearten, I just set it aside never finishing it.. such pretty yarn needed another go.. took less time to frog than I was expecting..

I love the way it came out.. supper soft .. the drape is so light and flowing.. this stitch was perfect for it.. I used Red Hearts Boutique Unforgettable in Parrot.. the yarn has since been discontinued sadly.. Their new line of Unforgettable is thicker but just as soft.. might give that a go soon..

link to scarf pattern

Textured crochet scarf

 

 

First post of the new year wow time is flying.. as always we have been keeping very busy.. started going to the big farmers and crafts market in town.. about 300 vendors, even on slow days there are hundreds of people shopping.. love the change up.. costs more to set up of course but so far has proven to be worth it.. been crocheting and knitting over 10 hours a day to keep up.. not leaving much time for crafting for myself, writing down the patterns I am making or even blogging updates..

got me a head cold now.. have no choice but to slow down.. so what do I do with my off time.. that's right play with yarn lol

 

 a sale on Premier's Sweet Roll yarns.. less than half price after taxes... lead me to grab a few..

 

I have only used one of the four I picked up at this point, this is what I found...

 

not a foot into it was the first knot, thankfully only one other

 

 

I wasn't really happy with the color change overs.. nothing smooth about it at all..

 

blotches of color through out, only one large one, rest were only a stitch or less long..

 

 the yarn was very easy to work with.. soft but not fraying soft.. no splitting at all.. nice stretch, bounced back well, good thickness, worked up fast, easy to frog if need be ;)

 

over all wasn't real hot on the color changes ups even though I like the colors themselves,

I liked working with the yarn ... minus the knots..

 

 for a first try of the yarn it wasn't anything that would get me to buy more..

however who knows, the next few cakes may hold another story.. never judge a yarn by one skein alone

Right

 

This is the out come, even with the issues I like the feel and fun look of it

 

                                                        

Textured crochet scarf


245 yds. of worsted weight yarn shown in Premier's Sweet Roll color way Pixie Pop *

Size K 10.5/6.50 mm hook *

Gauge is not essential

Size 8 inches wide by 47 inches long

size can be changed by sticking to a even count of foundation chains plus one turning chain, adding as many or few rows as you like

Written using American terms

Worked in the Lemon peel stitch = sc1, dc1 every row ( a known stitch pattern )


Stitches

ch = chain

sc = single crochet

dc = double crochet


1) ch 21

2) sc into second chain from hook, dc next stitch continue with sc one, dc one to end 

3) chain 1, *sc 1, dc1* repeat to end of row 

repeat row 3 until you reach the size you want or run out of yarn

fasten off weave in ends


Tips

each sc will have a dc worked in it, as each dc will have a sc worked in it

you will always end row with a dc


*any yarn can be used with corresponding hook size




 

Shortest day of the year... means each day starts to get a bit longer bringing us closer to warm weather... never been a fan of cold.. to help keep ya'll warmer through the upcoming months until the sun kicks up some heat... all of my patterns are now 25% off


Pattern Sale on Raverly 25%

Everything on Etsy 25% off

now through the end of the year... 12/31/2017 midnight mt. time

Best wishes for a wonderful and warm winter

Chain Two headband

Chain Two Headband

Size I/9-5.50mm hook

approximately 47 yards of worsted weight yarn

one button I used 1/2 inch size

gauge = first three rows shown in photo, main body 4 inches wide





Stitches

ch= chain

sc= single crochet



NOTES

Chain one after each row (turning chain) through out pattern, does not count as stitch. Pattern is worked into the sc's only, skipping the chains in between.



chain 4

1) sc into second ch from hook, sc 2

2) sc twice into each ch ( 6 stitches )

3) sc 6

4-6) sc1, *ch1, sc1* to end ( working only in sc's here and through out )



Main body

this section determines the length of the headband. I made mine to fit approximately 23" ... add or subtract rows to adjust size as desired.



7-51) sc1, *ch2, sc1* to end



Decreases

52-54) sc1, *ch1, sc1* to end

55) sc 6 ( remember to skip chain stitches )

56) sc 2 together three times



Button loop

size can be changed to fit the button you are using by adjusting the chains in between sc's

57) sc1, ch3, skip next sc, sc1 in last sc, fasten off, weave in ends, sew on button.

Pattern by Barbra Szabrowicz, items made with this pattern may be sold.

PDF's can be purchased at
Etsy

Texture Stitch Headband free knit pattern

Texture Stitch Headband

Can be made to any size and width you like by sticking to the multiple of 2+1 for width and knit until as long as you want.
Any yarn will work just use appropriate needle size for said yarn, if unsure check label.

The cool thing about this stitch other than it's ease is it is reversible, not sure which side I like better lol

the stitch is as follows
1) right side: purl
2) k1, *yf, sl 1 purl wise, yb, k1* to end

that's it... super easy

I cast on 19 for this one.. didn't pay attention to gauge or yardage just worked until it was the right size for me and cast off..... seamed it wove in ends and good to go.. super fast ...

Stitches
yf= yarn forward
yb= yarn back
sl= slip one
k= knit