Category Archives: All Crochet

May 25, 2013 · 5:24 am

Happy Memorial Day from Craftsy!

Celebrate Memorial Day with Craftsy!

This Memorial Day weekend, join Craftsy in honoring the brave men and women who have served in the US Armed Forces. For every class sold this weekend, Craftsy will donate a portion of the proceeds to benefit a veterans’ organization.  Select classes will be on sale up to 60% off!

 The  Craftsy Memorial Day Sale  offer expires Monday, May 27, 2013 at midnight MDT!

Simply click the image below to be taken directly to the sale page.

Disclosure: This article contains an affiliate link, which means I  can earn a small  commission if you click through and buy the product mentioned. I support Craftsy and love their concept!

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May 20, 2013 · 4:18 am

Berry Colored Petals.

DSCF4073First and foremost, I have to share that I absolutely love my skein of Rowan Fine Art sock yarn and to be honest, at first I was not quite sure about the color.  However, once I caked my yarn and started crocheting, I soon realized the colors are truly fantastic and remind me of berries.

It took me a full day to find just the right pattern for this particular color of yarn.  I really didn’t feel like knitting socks, or even a shawl.  I wanted something to crochet that would be easy, fairly quick and simple.  I personally feel that sometimes the most simple of patterns truly can show off the beauty of a yarn, especially if it’s hand-painted yarn.  So with that though in mind, I decided to crochet a Spring Petals Scarf, perfect for beginners and easy to memorize.

The original design calls for worsted weight but it’s perfect for fingering weight too.  To compensate for the size, I doubled the stitches for the pattern  and went down three hook sizes, opting for a size US E (3.5 mm).   I also wanted something to give a bit more interest to the pattern and give a softness to the colors of the yarn.  After going through my stash, I found that I had two skeins of Rowan Kidsilk Haze in the color Dewberry (#600), a perfect complement to the Raven.

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I plan to work on this scarf over the next few weeks, along with a few other projects I’ve got going!

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May 17, 2013 · 5:10 pm

Cabazon, southwestern style!

As promised, here are a few photos of my finished Cabazon crocheted tee.  I truly love it and look forward to wearing it this summer.  I have to share that I should have gone up on size as the waist is a tiny snug, but other than that I really like how it turned out.

As mentioned I substituted Rowan Savannah.  For this particular project I used 9 skeins (783.0 yards/716.0m) and only had a very tiny portion left over.  The pattern instructions are very well written and easy to follow, a huge plus for me.  It was a super fun project, so much so I have decided to hook yet another project!  I must keep you in suspense to the pattern but I will say I plan to use my skein of Rowan Fine Art sock yarn in color#304, Raven.

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Do you enjoy crochet projects?

Have you ever made any of the Rowan projects?

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May 16, 2013 · 8:16 pm

Off the hook … Cabazon

Today I finished my Cabazon crocheted tee and I LOVE it!   I really enjoyed the pattern, as well as the  Rowan Savannah .  I even have to say it was fun to learn a few new crochet techniques too!  .

A bit about  Rowan Savannah .  I found the more I worked with it, the softer it became.  I also like how it holds it’s shape and doesn’t stretch out like most cotton yarns seem to do.  One word of caution, it does bleed when washed, so make sure to hand wash separately. I do recommended it for any style garment, knitted or crocheted.  Once my project is dry, I will take a photo for you all!

Since I truly enjoyed this crochet project, I decided to use my stash of Elsebeth Lavold Cable Cotton in the color putty and will be starting  a very unique and beautiful design called Abigail by Jenny King.  Jenny’s design give instructions for both a vest and a cardigan, and I’ve chosen to make a vest.

For a size medium/large vest, this project will require approximately 1,360 yards of worsted weight yarn and an US size G crochet hook.  I will have enough yarn and may consider adding short sleeves.

Back view – courtesy of Jenny King

Front View – Courtesy of Jenny King

What are you working on?

Current Projects on the Needles and Hooks:

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May 11, 2013 · 7:23 pm

Vintage Finds !

Today was perfect!  We started our day by going out to our favorite breakfast spot, then to a store to pick up an early birthday present for my husband. We decided it would be a great day to do a bit of antiquing, so we went to both of our Brass Armadillo antique malls and came home with a few new treasures.

I have to share that I’m very excited with a beautiful Delft plate I found that portrays a shepherdess knitting among her flock of sheep.  The transfer was from an original painting entitled La Bergere  and I am trying to decide where to hang my new find!

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My second find, a vintage set of circular needles that are brand new and still in the original box.  The needles were manufactured by P.G. Roberts Co. and are called “Countess”.  I have searched the web and cannot find out when these needles were made.  I can tell you that the tips are metal, sizes US 5 to 16, and that the four cables screw into the tips.  I have to say too that this set rather reminds me of the Denise interchangeables and if anyone has an idea of their age or when they could have possibly been manufactured, I would appreciate it.  I’m thinking the early 60′s, what do you think?

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Now it’s time to relax a bit and enjoy some crocheting!  I’ve just finished one side of my Cabazon crocheted tee and I will be starting the second side. I can’t wait to finish so I can wear it!

Until next time, happy knitting, crocheting, spinning and crafting!

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May 8, 2013 · 6:25 am

Yarn Along: Work in Progress and Of Course Reading!

Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs.  I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well.  So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading?  ~ Ginny from Small Things

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Still reading  The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher and I’m happy to say I’m half way through the book.  I’ve had too many distractions lately that have been keeping me away from this book, maybe this evening I’ll just sit and read and give myself a knitting break!

My project bowl is overflowing but I’m working on  each project a little at a time.  Keeps one motivated to have a few WIPs going!  I should be done with the front of my Cabazon soon, just four more rows and then I will start the back piece.

So, what are you knitting, crocheting or spinning?

Any good books lately?

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May 7, 2013 · 8:54 pm

It’s Austentatious!

For some reason after watching a new favorite, Pride and Prejudice with Keira Knightley, I’ve been a bit “Austentatious” and have been searching for things that are simply “Jane”.  So, without further adieu, please allow me to take you on a little journey, a journey into a bygone time of elegance, propriety, manners and romance.

For those of you who love and treasure Jane Austen, you may or may not know about Jane Austen’s World, a wonderful blog dedicated to everything “Austen” and the Regency period.  One of my favorite parts of this particular blog is the page dedicated to podcasts and audio books for Jane Austen, and so much more.  Another wonderful website that will get you lost in Austenland, is the Jane Austen Centre.  Be sure to take a look at their newsletter and their online magazine, both full of the Regency period and everything Jane Austen.

Austenatious Crochet features thirty-two original crochet projects focusing on women’s wear, such as dresses, sweaters, cardigans, and capelets, as well as handbags, scarfs, pillowcases and clothing for children.

Inspired by the  novels of Jane Austen, this collection is sure to please even the most devout Austen fan out there.  Inside, crocheters will love how each project contains an introduction that includes favorite bits of dialogue from the original novels, fully illustrated with photos, Regency-style illustrations, and step-by-step schematics.

I also have to tell you I love Interweave’s Jane Austen Knits, a once a year special issue featuring designs inspired by Jane Austen’s novels.  So far Interweave has published three, Jane Austen Knits Premiere, Jane Austen Knits, Summer 2012 and Jane Austen Knits, Fall 2012.  I truly hope they continue with this special issue, fingers crossed for a summer 2013 issue!

Do you like a bit of embroidery now and then?  This delightful PDF download pattern, Jane Austen,  designed by Pam Jones, From the Craft Room,  is sure to inspire you to pick up your needle and embroider while listen to a bit of Sense and Sensibility.  Pam’s download comes with stitch instructions,  a template and more.

Courtesy of Pam Jones – From the Craft Room

While searching Pinterest for more Jane Austen inspired needlework projects,  I came across this piece of embroidery designed by Creative Carmelina,  I love it, a portrait of Jane Austen!

Courtesy of Creative Carmelina

Of course you must remember to think about stitch markers for your knitting.  The Jane Austen Emma markers by Knit Girl in Idaho are very cute, as well as the set of Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice markers by Knit Cubby.

Courtesy of Knit Girl in Idaho

Courtesy of Knit Cubby

If you like simple shawls with just the right amount of lace, then Lizzie Bennet’s Shawl designed by Annie Riley might be perfect for you! This sweet little shawlette is perfect for stash busting as it only requires one skein of fingering weight yarn at approximately 400 yards.  Got to love one skein projects!

Courtesy of Annie Riley

So, are you an Austen fan?  What’s your favorite novel?

Until next time, happy knitting, crocheting and crafting!

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May 4, 2013 · 6:24 am

A Case of Startitis!

Startitis is a term used somewhat jokingly among knitters. It refers to an expensive, but rarely fatal affliction that often affects knitters and crocheters where they begin several projects all at one time but don’t really make much progress on anything before starting another new project. ~ Knit Wiki

Knitting WomanI would first like to say, it’s all Glenna’s fault, and I’m sticking to that excuse!  But in reality, well folks, I have a bad case of “startitis” and it started when Glenna posted her sock projects in simple patterns using beautiful fingering weight yarns.  The desire to cast on socks kept growing and growing  until I finally relented,  and yes, I gave in!

So, I have casted on Lara Smoot’s On Stranger Tides this morning using my stash of Springtree Road Muscandine in Tanis and will be casting  on Glenna’s A Niced Ribbed Sock using my newly acquired Patons Kroy in Grey Brown Ragg.  While I’m at it, I also hope to make a pair of crocheted slippers for my Mom for Mother’s Day, the Crocodile Slippers by Bonita Patterns.   See, I told you I have a bad case of “startitis”.  Is there a cure for this???  The bright side, I’ll not be bored!

Current Projects on the Needles and Hooks:

As a knitter, crocheter, or spinner, have you ever had the urge to cast on many projects?  I know I can’t be the only one out there :)

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May 1, 2013 · 6:04 am

Yarn Along: Work in Progress and Of Course Reading!

Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs.  I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well.  So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading?  ~ Ginny from Small Things

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I’m still reading  The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher.  So far I’m half way through the book and will be finished soon.  I’m truly looking forward to reading Debbie Macombers latest book, Starting Now (A Blossom Street Novel), which is sitting on the table next to the bed waiting patiently for me to finish my current book.

I only have three projects going right now, which is a good thing as that’s about all I can handle for the moment.  On my needles is my handspun Posies Shawl .  This design is going to be fun to knit and the stitch pattern is so easy to memorize!  I have to say I’m loving the fact I can once again use my own handspun for a project.  I’m still plugging away on my  Angel Pearls Beaded Scarf  and will admit that this particular project will be a slow going one for me  that will get finished over time.  One project I’m very happy with is my Cabazon.  So far it seems to be going fairly quick for me, considering I only work on it at night, and I’m looking forward to wearing it this summer.

So, what are you knitting, crocheting or spinning?

Any good books lately?

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April 29, 2013 · 5:14 am

Change of Heart

It’s often said it’s a woman’s prerogative  to change her mind but in my husband’s words it’s called being fickle.   I don’t think I’m fickle to often, but like any knitter or crocheter, if the project is not working or I’m just not happy with it, why continue.

This past Friday, I was excited to cast on Cheyenne using my lovely Rowan Savannah in the color of Arizona.  I started, I ripped out twice and came to the conclusion, I just did not like the look of the lace stitch pattern.  For some reason my double yarn overs were leaving huge holes and that was simply unacceptable in my book.  So, I ripped it all out and let it sit in my basket the remainder of the day and did not touch it or my copy of  Summer Textures until Sunday morning.

DSCF4022I love the Savannah yarn  and decided to use it for a different project, Cabazon by Sarah Hatton.  Cabazon is a quick and easy crochet project that  uses Rowan All Season’s Cotton.  After doing the math and a swatch, my 9 skeins of Savannah was going to work and I promptly started but only to realize after four inches of work that something wasn’t quite right.  Sigh … yes, I had to rip it back out.

Note to oneself: Before starting a project, be sure to check the terms used for instructions. I did not think to check to see if UK crochet terms were used or US crochet terms. Needless to say, I had to start over after I realized UK terms were used throughout the book.

Yes, the crochet terms are written for UK standards and it didn’t even dawn on me to check this out before starting.  So, I once again started over but have to say it was well worth it!  The crochet pattern looks fantastic in the  Rowan Savannah and I’ve noticed the more I work the yarn, the softer it is becoming.  I do believe this crocheted pullover will be perfect for the summer here in Arizona and I can’t wait to wear it!

Have you ever had a project that was just not working?

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