Sashay

A bit ago, a young neighbor of mine (who knows that I crochet) pointed to a beautiful frilly crochet scarf that another of our neighbors was wearing, and asked if I could teach her how to make one. 

I didn't know, but I figured I could probably find out, and so I asked her for a bit of reconnaissance time. After a google search or two, I found what I was looking for at good old redheart.com

Specifically, I found this pattern. The yarn needed is called Red Heart Sashay, and it's more ribbon than yarn, which accounts for the frills all through the scarf.

And then, I worked up this scarf:



Would you believe that this whole scarf is made up of a foundation chain row, followed by row after row of 4 single crochet stitches? Getting my fingers used to working with the ribbon yarn has been kind of tricky, but not unenjoyable.

 

Regardless of all of this, the scarf is frilly, fun, and I love the texture of it. I can see me making more like them in the future.  

(And I recently taught my young neighbor as well.)

Bulky Cowl Pattern

This is a pattern that I've recently been working on.  I quite like it.  It's inspired by  this pattern, but I've made some changes that work better for me.





Bulky Cowl

Use two strands of yarn together.  

Size N hook

Row 1:  Chain 22, do treble in 4th chain from hook, and in each chain to end.  Chain 3, turn.

Row 2:  Work Back Post Treble in each treble to end, chain 3, turn.

Row 3:  Work Front Post Treble in each treble to end, chain 3, turn.  


Repeat Rows 2 and 3 until there are 24 rows total, or until the rectangle you are making is approximately 22 inches long.  Slip stitch ends together, twisting one side over first.  

 

Convertible Cowl Pattern

Here's the pattern (written in Charlotte-ese again) for a convertible cowl that I like to make.

Crochet Convertible Cowl

Materials:

220 yards of worsted weight yarn (I like Patons SWS wool/soy blend, but I think they've discontinued it.  Boo!)

J Size Hook


Chain 61 and join with a sl st into back of chain (do not twist chain).  (OR, alternately, you can go ahead and work row one into the chain, and then join, being sure to slip stitch the bottom together.  This way helps me to be certain that I'm not twisting the chain.)

Row 1: Chain 2, (working in back of chain) Sc in same chain as joining. Sc in each chain around and join to first stitch.


* * * You should have 61 stitches on each row that you complete* * *

Row 2: Ch 3, (counts as first dc), skip st and dc in each Sc around. Join with sl st to top of first stitch.

Row 3:  Repeat Row 2

Row 4: Ch 2, (counts as first hdc), skip st and hdc in each around. Join with sl st to top of first stitch.

Row 5: Ch 3, (counts as first dc), skip st and dc in each hdc around. Join with sl st to top first stitch.

Rows 6-7: Repeat Row 5

Row 8: Repeat Row 4

Row 9: Repeat Row 5

Row 10: Ch 2, Sc in each dc around. Join with sl st to first stitch.

Rows 11-18 Repeat Rows 3-9

Rows 19-24 Repeats Rows 3-7

Fasten off.


Dimensions = 10” wide (laid flat) and 13” high (laid flat)



 

a gorgeous etsy treasury

I'm just tickled pink to have one of my scarves featured among all this beauty.  Wow! 

(Check out that Embroidery Hoop Art with the Stacked Houses!  Isn't that amazing?)

 

'~ whisper of eternity ~' by Ki3m

760x100 banner logo f... simplydoodles $6.00	Handmade Chunky Scarf i... salutationscro... $43.00	Three Soda and Wood Fir... khphillips $91.00	Sheets 8 X 10 inch Sign... gildinglilies $20.00
Decorative Damask Throw... DelindaBoutiqu... $19.00	Stacked Houses - Origin... saysthetree $50.00	dreamy song sparrow, a ... ORphotography $23.00	Upcycled Chunky Frames ... cottagehomedec... $25.00
Softly - 8x12 Fine Art ... Lori411 $27.00	Single Freshwater Pearl... LexiandGem $26.00	Brooch Felted white ros... Baymut $24.00	Set of 20 - Butterfly -... MamaTita $30.00
Coconut Craze Olive Oil... dennisanderson $5.50	Custom Monograms FineEmbroidery $30.00	Berry Bowl - Linen - La... vesselsandware... $56.00	Japan Relief Efforts - ... HoneysHive $15.00

Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com A/B image testing.

My Stuff has NEVER made it to Alaska before!

I love to make crochet items for people I know. 

And, let's be honest,

I'm also quite fond of making crochet items that then sell for cold hard cash.

So, when those two loves intersected recently, it was a lovely late Christmas present for me.


Monday night, I received an e-mail from a friend of mine.  I met her through my husband, (she and her husband had been friends with my Eric for years and years) and liked her immediately.  The limited interaction that I had with her convinced me that she was "my kind of person", but it took awhile for us to get around to lining up our schedules to actually spend some time together.  (Interestingly enough, the catalyst for all that was when we found each other's respective blogs and started commenting there.) Over the summer, we were able to get to know each other more, and I found that I enjoyed her company every bit as much as I had thought I would. 

And then, as things go sometimes, she moved across the country, from Utah to Michigan, and now we interact mostly through our blogs again.

So, when I got an e-mail from her regarding this scarf, which she wished to purchase for her sister-in-law (in Alaska!), it was a real treat for me. 

Then, when I woke up the next morning to find that she had written about the scarf on her "write-about-one-good-thing-about-every-day" blog, it was like Christmas morning all over again. 

Yet another example of how crocheting brings good things to my life. 

(Thanks, Heather.)

More scarves--does it get any better?

In case you couldn't tell, I'm in a scarf mood lately.  I love love love scarves.  There's something about having a nice soft scarf around my neck that helps me keep warm from my head to my toes.  Some days (usually Saturdays) I'll go around all day with a scarf around my neck.  I find that they are particularly helpful in the evenings when my house is just cool enough so that I'm uncomfortable, but not so cold that I feel like (spending the money by) turning up the heat.  When that's the case, sometimes all it takes is one little scarf around my neck, and I'm good to putter around until bedtime.

So, since I'm in a scarf mood today, I thought I'd post some links to some scarf patterns that I've been hankering to work up.

First of all, Marie Ann over at  

Every Day Crochet  has posted 

a stitch combination that is simple

as can be, but yields results that 

look distinguished and unique.  

My favorite kind of crocheting!  

You can find the introduction

here, and then the actual 

directions right here. 

I love this Mermaid Scarf--so fun!

This Mirror Lake Scarf looks like 

it might be a little complicated, but 

probably well worth the effort.

I have a whole shoebox full of beads 

leftover from past hobbies.  This bead

and ripple skinny scarf looks like a 

perfect way to use up some of those 

beads, AND bring a little extra happiness 

to some of my eighteen nieces!  

(Not to mention my own little girl.)

 

 

Then there's the Noro Catherine Wheel

Scarf.  Unique.  Delightful.  Am I up to 

the challenge of this one?  Here's 

hoping!

And finally, we have this bloom scarf.  

Perhaps not quite right for November, 

but come February, I'll be pining for 

Spring, and this will be just the thing.  

(Please note that to see this pattern, 

you have to register for the Lion Brand 

yarn site.)

And there you have it, some of my favorites.  

What about you?

Do you have a scarf pattern that you particularly like or want to try?

Scarf Update-with my first ever "published" pattern!

Well, I finished the Homespun scarf and hat. 

I'm pleased with how they came out.  They're luxuriously soft, and although my personal color preference tends toward bright, vibrant colors; there's no denying that this beige/tan will match with nearly every coat ensemble, where a ruby red or peacock blue absolutely would not.

I still have some of this yarn left over from my mad Michael's buying spree, so I think I'm going to work up a few more scarves, but make them longer and thinner. 

I've decided to share the pattern for this scarf here, even though I don't have a whole lot of experience with writing patterns, and I'm not sure I'll do it perfectly.  The fact is, writing it up is good practice for me, and since it's absolutely free, I feel okay about the fact that it might not be written absolutely perfectly. 

So, if you're feeling brave, get out your hook and follow along!

Charlotte's Half-Cable Scarf:
Materials: 1 skein Lions Brand Homespun Yarn
Hook size:  I used an "I", but I crochet more loosely than anyone I've ever met, so you might want to try something a little smaller.
Gauge:  I never check the gauge.  This sometimes gets me into trouble, but I still never learn.  So no gauge here.  Sorry.

Pattern:

• Row 1:  Ch 18 or so.
• Row 2:  Dc in third chain from hook, and all the way across, you should have 16 dc in row  (The ch 2 at the beginning of this row does NOT count as one of your dc's) ch 2, (does not count as first dc), turn.)
• Row 3:  Dc in next three stitches, [FPdc around next dc 1 row below] three times, dc in next four stitches, [FPdc around next dc 1 row below] three times, dc in last three stitches, ch 2, turn.
• Row 4:  Dc in next three stitches, [BPdc around next FPdc 1 row below] three times, dc in next four stitches, [BPdc around next FPdc 1 row below] three times, dc in last three stitches, ch 2, turn.
• Row 5:   Dc in next three stitches, sk 1 stitch,[FPtrc around next BPdc 1 row below] two times, FPtrc around BPdc 1 row below skipped stitch (slant stich made), dc in next four stitches, sk 1 stitch, [FPtrc around next BPdc 1 row below] two times, FPtrc around BPdc 1 row below skipped stitch dc in last three stitches, ch 2, turn.
• Row 6:   Dc in next three stitches, sk 1 stitch,[BPdc around next FPtrc 1 row below] three times, dc in next four stitches, [BPdc around next FPtrc 1 row below] three times, dc in last three stitches, ch 2, turn.
• Row 7:   Dc in next three stitches, [FPdc around next BPdc 1 row below] three times, dc in next four stitches, [FPdc around next BPdc 1 row below] three times, dc in last three stitches, ch 2, turn.
• Row 8 :  Dc in next three stitches, sk 1 stitch,[BPdc around next FPdc 1 row below] three times, dc in next four stitches, [BPdc around next FPdc 1 row below] three times, dc in last three stitches, ch 2, turn.
• Row 9:  Repeat Rows 7 & 8 until you feel like it's time for another "cable" (I usally repeat them 4-5 times each), then  repeat rows 5-8 until the scarf is the length you want it to be.

abbreviations:  

ch=chain

dc=double crochet

FPdc=front post double crochet

BPdc=back post double crochet

FPtrc=front post treble crochet