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

Soft Scarf City

(Say that seven times fast!  I dare you!)

A few years ago, I gave several of my friends and family members crocheted scarves and hats at Christmastime. I had kind of forgotten about that, but a few days ago I was talking to my sister, and she reminded me of a set that I gave her.  I used Lions Brand Homespun yarn, which ended up being a great choice.  The yarn is soft and comforting, and because it's a bulky weight, everything works up super quickly.  Best of all, since the yarn is acrylic, the items made from it are machine washable.

So, Saturday  I was browsing around in Michael's (in high heeled boots and a skirt, with my impatient toddler girl and dragging-his-feet-and-being-obnoxious-while-trying-to-be-funny-all-at-the-same-time husband)(but that's another story), and discovered their entire stock of Homespun on sale!  I took it as a sign from the good crochet fairy, and bought a bunch.  I started on a scarf that evening, and will be making several more over the next week or so.  Some will probably go for Christmas presents, and some will be for sale in my Etsy shop.  But let's be honest for a second, shall we?  At least two of them are going to go straight to me.

It's advertising, right?  Surely it has nothing to do with the fact that my idea of winter heaven is to be able to wear a different scarf every day of the week if possible.  Absolutely not.  This is pure advertising.

It's a rough job, but someone's got to do it. 

Homespun collage courtesy of:

me

AineD 

wyolibrarian

annethelibrarian

Slippers Update

So, remember how I was going to try my hand at slippers?

I'm pleased with how they've turned out.  I don't have them all listed yet, but those that I have listed have been quite popular.

A few things I learned along the way:

-Upcycled yarn didn't work as well for these as the brand new stuff.  See those black slippers?  They were made from some yarn that I upcycled from a thrifted cotton sweater.  The yarn ended up being a little more difficult to work with than the regular cotton yarn that I purchased to make the rest of the slippers.

-Having a few possible buttonholes on the attachment strap is easy, and a good idea.   The pattern called for just one buttonhole (which was made by doing sc ch sc instead of sc sc sc), but after a few tries, I found that making three buttonholes was just as easy, and made the slippers more adjustable.  Kind of like how sandals and belts have a few possible holes, you know?

And finally, (and most importantly for me)

-I am capable of making two slippers that are exactly (or close enough to exactly) the same size.   Hooray!  Charlotte scales another mountain and conquers another weakness!  Yippee!!

And just for fun, here are few links to free slipper patterns on the web:


This one isn't free, but it's only $4, and it's the pattern I used for the slippers purchased here, and I think it's worth it.  The woman who wrote and sells the pattern is from New Zealand, and I she used a few terms that weren't all that familiar to me, but I was able to figure it all out without too much trouble.

This monster eyes slipper pattern looks delightful!  I can think of a few people for whom a pair of these would make a hilarious and most appreciated gift.

I'm personally not a huge fan of this particular picture, but if you made these Pilgrim slippers (on the left) in browns and tans, they might be just the thing for hanging out and watching the Thanksgiving Day football games.


This pattern for Cosy Crocheted Slippers (on the right) comes to us courtesy of Canadian Living.  And really, who would know better about needing something nice and warm on your toes than those Canadians?   



And there you have it!  The extensive slipper update.  Good luck with your slipper adventures, and if you have any luck (or any catastrophes that you want to commiserate over), please feel free to post about them here.

Luscious Creamy Goodness

I absolutely adore this treasury:





(Can you find which item I made?)

(Hint: It's not the fingerless gloves.)

If you're on my Christmas list, (and you want to be surprised) DON'T READ THIS POST!

Much of our Saturday was spent trick-or-treating, visiting friends and lazing around.

However, this post is to celebrate the fact that in between all that,

I managed to trade all of this:

For ALL of this:

(and even a little bit more that I couldn't fit into the collage)

Trading is one of the absolute joys of my crocheting life. 

(Thanks Etsy!)
(Thanks fellow Trade-a-holics!)

(thanks muffintop!)
(thanks peculiarparchment!)

Why I Crochet

BACKGROUND

(This doesn't have anything to do with crocheting, but it's kind of important so that the part that does have to do with crocheting makes sense.)  


So, I have this friend.  Her name is Lee and she's about 45 years older than I am.  I met her when I was going to college.  I was an 18-year old freshman, and she was a sixty-two year old woman who was taking as many music classes as she could.  We were in choir together.

We kept in touch over the years as I moved from state to state and city to city.  And then, one year, we lost touch with one another.  I didn't know where she was, or whether she was even still living.  For about two years I thought of her, tried to track her down, and wondered how she was. 

And then one day, about a year ago, a mutual friend called me, and in the course of our conversation, she told me what was up with Lee.  Specifically, she told me where she was living, what she was up to, and how I could get in touch with her.

The next time I was home, we met up.  What a treat that was!  She was 83 years old, and still as good-natured and courageous as ever.  We had a really nice chat before I left, and we determined to start up our mail correspondence once again.

And now we come to the crochet part:

About four months ago, in one of my letters, I mentioned that I had opened an etsy shop, and that I was making quite a few hats as well as other items, and that I was enjoying it.  Lee wrote me back, asking what kind of hats I had, and how much I was charging for them. In my next letter to her, I sent her a sheet with pictures of some of my more popular hats (but no prices).


She then wrote me back (you might think it would be more efficient to use the phone, but we're letter people), asking if I could send her one of my newsboy caps.  She had found that as she was getting older, her hair was starting to break off on the ends.  The fact that she put her hair in rollers every evening was compounding the problem, but she isn't the kind of person who feels comfortable not having her hair done, regardless of pretty much anything else.  


So, her plan was to wear one of my newsboy caps on weekdays and Saturdays, and only roll her hair up for Sundays.  She was hoping that by doing this, she could still feel pretty on the weekdays, AND slow the damage of her hair.  


Naturally, I sent her two caps, one in blue and one in creme.  (You would have done the same, I'm pretty sure.)

Well, from the next letter I received her, you would have thought I had sent her the moon on a string with a side of mozzarella cheese sticks.  She was thrilled, and as I read her effusive letter, so was I.

I like to think of her, hanging out in a creation that came out of my own fingers, feeling stylish and pretty.

In fact, thinking of that scene in my head sometimes just makes my day. 

"nice warm toasty woasty"

(The title is a phrase that my dad used to say to me as he tucked me into bed.  Now I say it to my little girl when I tuck her into bed.)

For the past few weeks, I've been in slipper mode.



I've never really gotten into making slippers before, because I've struggled at times with getting both slippers to be the same size, which was discouraging.

However, a few months ago, my sister-in-law proposed a little trade to me.  She would make me a quilt if I would make her a crochet bag and a couple pairs of slippers.

You should see her quilts.  They are beautiful!

Suddenly, I was very motivated to learn how to make slippers.  I purchased this pattern from etsy.com, and got to work.

After a few mishaps in sizing, I finally got a couple of pairs that I felt good about, and sent them off.  Melissa loves them.  That gave me confidence to try to make some more.  I've been making them for awhile now, and have about eight pairs in black, creme, white, red, green, yellow, and blue.  I don't have pictures yet, (some of them still need trim and sewing work done) but when I do, I'll post them here.

One struggle I've had with slippers is sizing.  It's all very well and good if I'm making a slipper to fit my size 8 1/2 foot, but not everyone has my size feet.  So I've done a little sleuthing around, and I've found a size chart for socks (posted below, link here) that I'm hoping will help me out.  I figure I'll use it to determine what sizes my slippers actually are (as some of them are too big for my foot, and some of them are definitely too small), and then do a few field tests.

©Catherine Goodwin www.knittinganyway.com

 (used with permission)

I'll let you know how it goes.

slipper picture courtesy of Vanessa Yvonne
('cause, you know, mine aren't finished yet)