Granny Bag & Scarf

I have probably said this over and over (and over)....... but so far my absolute favourite part of being a Stylecraft Blogstar was the  BLOGSTAR MEET UP on 4 February 2017.

Besides getting to meet all the other lovely Blogstars we were treated to a mystery pack of Stylecraft Yarns for Spring 2017.   Three stunning "vintage" colours were added to the Stylecraft Special DK range and I could not wait to try out a few colour combinations!

Aren't they just too pretty for words????

The three new colours are gorgeous together and so I wanted to add additional colours that would really make them stand out.   

Stylecraft Special DK "Walnut" and "Apricot" were the perfect choice for a vintage feel "Gorgeous Granny" Bag and Granny Stripe Scarf

The colours had to be divided carefully between the two projects to obtain an even balance.    For the scarf I used longish panels of Apricot and Mushroom, separated by shorter panels of Vintage Peach.    For the side stripes I used Buttermilk, Walnut and Vintage Peach edged with Apricot.   (I made the granny stripe for the scarf up and intend to use this it in a blanket design)

I used double rows of each colour for the bag in the following order:   Buttermilk, Vintage Peach, Apricot, Mushroom & Walnut. 

The pattern for the bag is available in my RAVELRY STORE

This and That

Our little stretch of Coast is a paradise of lush subtropical vegetation,  rolling hills, gorgeous golden beaches and warm blue Indian Ocean waters. 

We have a glorious sea view from our home and I could easily while away a day watching the ocean change colours!.    From indigo to deep turquoise, almost sky blue to aqua, and silver to grey on cloudy days.   Quite often two or more bands of colour are clearly visible at the same time.

Some days the humidity is so high that the line between ocean and sky becomes a blur, and a thick moisture bank hangs over the valleys. 

The past summer has been unbearably hot and humid - so much so that I have forgotten what it feels like to be cool and comfortable.   Very little gets done around here in the heat.    We sit around limply sipping on ice tea and lemonade - questioning the sanity of our move to the coast!   There have been a few days where a move to Alaska seemed very attractive!

The obvious downside to the long unrelenting summer heat is that not much hooking gets done.   Face / Wash cloths (HERE and HERE) and the occasional scarf are about the biggest projects I can manage.

Not much pattern writing gets done either - my brain is in molten state most days!   I have at least managed to finish and publish two patterns though.....

The  ZOOTY OWL POCKET SCARF (Pattern available on Ravelry) is made with Stylecraft Special Chunky, 100% premium Acrylic    

The 2 Zooty Owls take a bit of patience to make - but are easily mastered.   Once you have made the owls the rest of the scarf hooks up in no time at all.    Little hands and wrists can hide from the cold in the generous pockets (which are big enough for small to medium adult hands). 

Adding a few rows to the length makes the scarf a gorgeous winter warmer for  a grown up daughter or niece.

The squares are made separately and are thus ideal for use in other projects such as a baby blanket or a poncho for a toddler or young child.   (The yarn for the Owl Scarf was sponsored by Stylecraft).

On Easter Sunday, when my children were young, we would scatter a few marshmallow eggs around the garden with a colour sticker.    Each child would have to find the eggs with their colour sticker on (so that they each got the same number of eggs).    Rather than go overboard with the chocolate buying we would get them each a fluffy bunny toy or a bunny mug - something "bunny" that would be enjoyed throughout the year. 

I first made the Bunny Scarf for my children about 20 years ago!   I resurrected the idea from an Easter photo I came across while going through my late mom's photos.   The bunnies have friendly 3d faces, and sweet floppy ears. 

The pockets are ideal to hide little treasures in and to keep little hands from the cold.

The bunnies do require a bit of patience to make but can still easily be made by a novice.   I have used Chunky yarn for the Bunny Scarf and so it is easily completed in a few hours.

Both my scarves were made for little girls.   You could easily make the scarf suitable for a boy by removing the flower and adding a tassle of "yarn hair" instead.   The BUNNY SCARF pattern is available on Ravelry.

As a little "THANK YOU" you can buy both the Zooty Owl Scarf and Bunny Scarf patterns for $5 dollars using Coupon Code:   Easter2017

Promotion valid from 19 March - midnight on 26 March 2017.

I still have a LOT of news to share with you, but it has started raining and I am going to take full advantage of the cooler temperature to get some hooking done.!

Happy hooking friends - I hope the weather treats you kindly wherever in the world you find yourselves!

Rustic Day Trip Scarf

Just a quick little post to show you my latest Day Trip scarf made with two shades of Stylecraft Alpaca Tweed.    I divided the row count by three.   Worked the first third in "Ocean";   the second third in "Duck Egg" and the last third in "Ocean".

The Alpaca Tweed is a blend of 20% Alpaca / 77% Acrylic / 3% viscose, in thirteen soft shades, which you can view HERE.

There is 240 metres of yarn per 100g ball, and I used about 160g in total.  

I love the way the solid colour yarn (worked with a 4.00mm hook) showcases the simplicity of the stitches!  

The pattern for the Day Trip Scarf can be found in my RAVELRY STORE

The Edge of Madness

I have been working as if my life depends on it to finish up orders and gifts and donations, as well as trying to prepare for 2017 and complete a few patterns that were partially written. 

My big table has been at the centre of all the action, with projects in various stages of completion around three sides, completed and packaged projects on the fourth side, and all the leftover yarn and packaging dumped in a heap in the middle!.  Last Sunday I wrapped the last of the work which I had to get out, and I could breathe easy again.

My craft room was, of course, a complete disaster so I spent a few hours tidying up - rolling up ribbons, packing away unused gift bags, tags and sorting yarn leftovers.  I "MAGIC" knotted left over bits of yarns to make my own "variegated" yarns, which were used to hook up a few Day Trip and Road Trip scarves and shawls.

The DAY TRIP SCARF differs from the Road Trip Scarf in that it increases steadily in length and gradually in width, whereas the Road Trip Scarf increases evenly in length and width.  In this photo you can clearly see the difference between the two scarves.   Both are 1.5 metres in length, but the RTS becomes a shawl, whereas the DTS remains a scarf.

I have come up with a sweet little edging that can be used in many different ways with both the ROAD TRIP, and DAY TRIP SCARVES

The edging is a repeat of a "shell" followed by a "loop" along the shaped edges of both scarves, with a simple chain loop worked along the straight edges.  

This plain and simple edging is the perfect finishing touch for a "toned down" look.

A scarf or a shawl with a generous fringe always adds a bit of fun to a winter outfit, but sometimes working directly onto the scarf base looks untidy.   This edging neatens up the scarf base and the fringe can be attached around the loops for a very neat finish.

SHELLS 'N LOOPS EDGING PATTERN

PATTERN NOTES:   This edging is suitable for both the Day Trip and Road Trip Scarves.   The edgings vary slightly for each scarf so just make sure you are using the correct one! 

The "loop" is in its "simplest form" in the written pattern, but it can be changed in many ways for a different look:

Instead of 3ch, crochet 1ch, 1 picot, 1ch 

OR
Crochet 15ch (or more) for a crochet fringe effect......

Thread beads onto your yarn before you start working and add a bead to the loop as you go....

The possibilities are endless - just have fun!!  

DAY TRIP SCARF
Pattern available in my RAVELRY STORE
(Refer to the notes of the purchased pattern for stitch references). 

Working from the starting point (Row 1) along the increase edge of the scarf, join yarn around 1st Sp.  
3ch (counts as 1dc), 3dc around same Sp as join; 1sc around next Sp, 3ch;

(1sc around next SP; 4dc around next SP; 1sc around next SP, 3ch) repeat up the increase side and down the decrease side, until your final row;
(Note:  the stitch sequence remains the same over the apex)

1sc around final Sp on decrease side, 
4dc, 1sc; around Sp on the straight (unshaped) side;

(2ch; 1sc around next Sp) repeat up to and including the Sp of Row 1;  3ch, 1sc around same Sp; sl st into 3rd of start ch to close.
 

 *************************************************

ROAD TRIP SCARF
Make sure that you end on an EVEN number row.    Stitches are worked into 1ch spaces between dc's along the shaped sides, and around the side of the stitch post at the end of each row on the straight side.   At the point the stitches will be worked into the 3ch sp.

Join yarn in 4ch at start of your last row.   4ch (counts as 1sc, 3ch);  skip 2dc; 1sc into next 1ch sp;

(4dc into next 1ch sp; 1sc into next 1ch sp; 3ch, 1sc into next 1ch sp) repeat up to and including 1ch sp before point.  

[(3dc, 3ch, 3dc) into 3ch point]; 1sc into next 1ch sp;

(3ch, 1sc into next 1ch sp; 4dc into next 1ch sp; 1sc into next 1ch sp) repeat to 1ch sp before your final row increase;  

3ch, skip 2dc, 1sc into final 1ch sp; 2ch

working along the straight (unshaped) side, (1sc into side post of next stitch, 2ch) repeat until you are back at the start of the edging.   Sl st into 1st of start 4ch to close.

Add your FRINGE around the 3ch loops!

The Day Trip Scarf

In 2014 when I created my Road Trip scarf I had no idea that it would be so ridiculously popular. I had a lot of requests for a longer scarf along similar lines. I finally got around to it - the result is a long “baktus style” scarf with two possible edgings. Either a frilly edge for a whimsical look or a zig-zag bobble edging. (The original Road Trip Scarf edging and trims would also work well with this design).

The Day Trip Scarf differs from the Road Trip Scarf in that it increases steadily in length and gradually in width, whereas the Road Trip Scarf increases evenly in length and width.

In the photo below you can clearly see the difference between the two scarves.   Both are 1.5 metres in length, but the RTS becomes a shawl, whereas the DTS remains a scarf

This version can also easily be made on a day journey as a passenger. The project is small and lightweight and can be squeezed into bag, making it a wonderful “take-along” project for a journey by car, plane, train or bus.

The Day Trip Scarf is a very economical project requiring just under 300 metres or 330 yards of DK / 8ply / light worsted weight yarn.

Because the pattern works up so quickly and is so economical to make, it is the perfect end of year / Christmas gift.

The pattern for the Day Trip Scarf is available in my RAVELRY STORE

Gifts

On Saturday afternoon, just before sunset, Mom's ashes were interred at the Holy Rosary Garden of Remembrance.

I have been making gifts from MOM'S YARN STASH to work through my grief and to spread a bit of comfort to family and close friends:   a "MAGIC" COMFORT BLANKET for my brother,  a HUGE COMFORT BLANKET for my dad, (as well as a few hot water bottle covers and some baby blankets to donate).

For each of the girls I made a super chunky ROAD TRIP SCARF!

Blues for my brother's girlfriend, my mom's best friend, and me:

Pinks for my eldest daughter and my sister:

And purples for my niece, and one extra in case my dad remembers somebody I forgot (oops)

(I will make my son a pair of gloves and a scoodie for my youngest daugher)

Each gift was hand-packaged

 with a special little tag:

These Road Trip Scarves were very quick and easy to make and are super warm - with a few twists on my original pattern:

YARN:   16ply (Super Chunky) - I wound various weights of yarn together to get 16ply.

HOOK:   9.00mm

NUMBER OF ROWS:    25

EDGING:   a simple 3ch picot

Of course, even though Mom is no longer here, I know she is here in spirit - so I made a special mandala and butterfly for the table beside her chair!

(My wonderful friend, Lori, has already tested both patterns for me - I am in the process of editing the photos so that I can publish them.    The Sunflower pattern will be for sale on Ravelry.   The Butterfly pattern will be a freebie on this Blog!)

Bunny Scarf with Pockets

This little scarf worked in soft acrylic chunky yarn can be made for either a girl or a boy.  To make a little boy bunny, remove the flower and add a tuft of yarn hair.

The pocket behind the bunny face will keep little hands warm on a cold day, and are the ideal place to hide a few extra Easter treats.

The pattern is available in my Ravelry Store (HERE)

The Neon Shawl

I crochet very fast and never have a problem finishing something quickly or getting my orders out on time!

This does, however, make me a very, very bad blogger!     Once my hands get going I forget to take photos or write down the pattern.   At this stage there are almost 60 patterns on my to-do list.   

One of my resolutions for 2015 is to work through THOSE old patterns (and ideas) before I allow myself to come up with anything else (not sure how much success I will have there - but I am determined to persist!!!)

The Neon Shawl is something I made in OCTOBER 2013.     It is one of those practical pieces that matches with most of my casual clothing - and it is just perfect to drape around the shoulders while socialising outside at night!  

The Neon effect is achieved by alternating colour stripes between dark grey and black stripes.     Very simple!      You can use any DK acrylic!    The colours do not need to be an exact match, and you will find that most brands stock colours similar to the ones I used.

The pattern is exactly the same as the Cosmos Fields Shawl (apart from the stripe composition and edging) - so here goes:

THE NEON SHAWL PATTERN


Yarn:    100% Acrylic DK

Colours: Black,  Dark Grey,  Pink, Bright Pink, Peach, Red, Lemon, Lime, Mint, Jade, Aqua, Turquoise, Baby Blue, Lilac

Special Stitch

Picot:    A picot is formed by crocheting 3ch then sl st into the top of the last dc

Stripe Composition:
Rows 1 - 4 Dark Grey
Row 5 - Pink
Rows  6 - 7 Dark Grey
Rows 8 - 9  Black
Row 10  Bright Pink
Rows 11 - 12 Black
Rows 13 - 14 Dark Grey
Row 15 Peach
Rows 16 - 17 Dark Grey
Rows 18 - 19 Black
Row 20 - Red
Rows 21 - 22 Black
Rows 23 - 34 Dark Grey
Row 25 Lemon
Rows 26 - 27 Dark Grey
Rows 28 - 29 Black
Row 30 Lime
Rows 31 - 32 Black
Rows 33 - 34 Dark Grey
Row 35 Mint
Rows 36 - 37 Dark Grey
Rows 38 - 29 Black
Row 40 Jade
Rows 41 - 42 Black
Rows 43 - 44 Dark Grey
Row 45 Aqua
Rows 46 - 47 Dark Grey
Rows 48 - 49 Black
Row 50 - Turquoise
Rows 51 - 52 Black
Rows 53 - 54  Dark Grey
Rows 55 Baby Blue
Rows 56  Grey
Row 57 Lilac
Rows 58 - 63 Black


Hook:   5.50mm 

Foundation & Rows 1 - 55 Follow the pattern for the COSMOS FIELDS SHAWL (using the above stripe composition) repeating the last row twice more for Rows 56 - 57.

Border:

Rows 58 - 59 (follow the pattern for Rows 56 - 57 of the Cosmos Fields Shawl)

Row 60 - 62:   4ch (counts as 1dc, 1ch), 2dc into 1ch sp;  [3dc (3dc group) into space before next dc group] repeat this until you reach the point (corner);    (3dc, 3ch, 3dc) into corner 3ch;  [3dc (3dc group) into next 3ch space] repeat this to the end of the row - working 2dc; 1ch, 1dc into the chain space at the end of the row 

Edging:  3ch (counts as 1dc), (1dc, picot, 1dc into 1ch space at start of row);  (sl st into space before next dc group;   2dc, picot, 1dc into same space as sl st] repeat this until you reach the point (corner);    (sl st into corner 3ch;   2dc, picot, 1dc into same space as sl st);  (sl st into space before next dc group;   2dc, picot, 1dc into same space as sl st) repeat this to the last 3 stitches and sl st into the 1ch space at the end of the row 

(We are now going to do the base edging - the longest side of the triangle which is formed as you do your rows) Into same 1ch space work 3hdc;  sl st into side of first dc post, (2ch, 1hdc, sl st into side of next dc post) repeat to last dc post, 3hdc, sl st into top of 3ch at start of row to end.

The Rally Scarf

Happy New Year!!!!

In celebration of the New Year my son designed a new logo for me and I am sharing my latest and first pattern for 2015!!!

This scarf is very addictive to make - and being so economical and easy too you could make as many as you feel inspired to!


PATTERN TERMS:   US
My patterns are all written in US terms

I have included this little chart to make it easier for my UK readers to reference the difference in stitch terms.

Skill Level:  Easy

Approximate Time:  3 hours

Yarn:   Any DK (8 ply / Light Worsted Weight)

Acrylic;  Courtelle;  Acrylic / Wool;  Acrylic / Wool / Tweed are all suitable types for this scarf

Amount Required:  100g (2 x 50g balls) / 300metres / 330 yards - this was sufficient across three different types of DK yarn

15g / 45 metres / 50 yards of a contrasting colour for the edging 

Hook Size:  I used a 5.00mm hook

Use whatever hook size suits your choice of yarn and your tension.

Length: 140cm (excluding the braids)

Width:  25cm (from straight edge to centre point)

Elle Rustica DK - Saddle (acrylic / wool / tweed)

Lollipop DK Colours - 0016 (100% Acrylic)

Elle Family Print DK - Sushi (100% Courtelle)

Elle Kidz DK - Dino Dudes (100% Acrylic)

Elle Kidz DK - Magic Potion (100% Acrylic)

PATTERN NOTES:   


This is a "long triangle scarf".    Shaping is done on one side of the scarf only.    The top edge remains straight.

The pattern repeat is 1 row hdc;   1 row dc - worked over Rows 4 - 7 for the "Increase" half of the scarf.

You will be increasing at the start of every dc row.  The last stitch on every hdc row is worked into the 3rd the start 3ch (the increase) where your previous row was dc (if you miss working into this your scarf is going to be oddly shaped)

The pattern repeat of 1 row hdc;   1 row dc  - is worked over Rows 8 - 11 for the "Decrease" half of the scarf.

You will be decreasing at the end of every hdc row.

Foundation:   4ch

Row 1:  1hdc into 3rd ch from hook;   1hdc into next ch (2ch at start counts as 1hdc) = 3hdc;   turn

Row 2:   3ch (counts as 1dc), 1dc into space between hdc (2dc "V");    2dc into next space between hdc (2dc "V");   turn

  
Row 3:  2ch (counts as 1hdc); 1hdc into "V" ;   2hdc into next "V";  turn

Row 4:   3ch (counts as 1dc increase);  2dc into each "v";   turn

Row 5:  2ch (counts as 1hdc) 1hdc into first "V";  (2hdc into next "V") repeat to last "V";  1hdc into top of 3ch at end of row;   turn

Row 6:  3ch (counts as 1dc increase), 1dc into space before first "v";  2dc into each "v";   turn

Row 7:   2ch (counts as 1hdc) 1hdc into first "V";  (2hdc into next "V") repeat to end of row;   turn

Repeat Rows 4 - 7 until your work is approximately 70cm long, omitting Row 7 on your last repeat (in other words, your last pattern repeat will be Rows 4, 5 and 6)

Row 8 - 2ch (counts as 1hdc) 1hdc into first "V";  (2hdc into next "V") repeat to last "v";   crochet 2hdc together (dec);   turn

Row 9 - 3ch (counts as 1dc);  2dc into each "v" to end of row;   turn

 

Row 10 - 2ch (counts as 1hdc) 1hdc into first "V";  (2hdc into next "V") repeat to "v" before last "v" (2nd last v);   crochet 2hdc together (dec);   1hdc into top of 3ch at start of previous row;   turn

Row 11 - 3ch (counts as 1dc), 1dc into space before first "v" (counts as first "v");  2dc into each "v";   turn

Repeat Rows 8 - 11 until there are 3 stitches left, omitting Row 11 on your last repeat (in other words, your last pattern repeat will be Rows 8, 9 and 10).  Break off yarn.

Edging:   Join contrasting colour to end post on any dc row.    3ch, 1dc into same space as join, skip next hdc row, sl st into side post on next dc row;  (3ch, 1dc into same space as sl st, skip next hdc row, sl st into side post on next dc row) repeat around all edges of scarf ending with a sl st into same place as start

Braids:  Pull a double strand of yarn through a stitch at the end of your scarf (until you have two equal lengths).    Start twisting both lengths in the same direction.   Once they are tightly twisted, hold them together and gently guide them to twist in the opposite direction.    Knot the end of the braid.

I added three of similar (not exact) lengths to each end.

Flowers:   Add a PANSY or a button or two at each end and you are good to go!

**************

Thank you so very much to Leanne Nisha and Laura Brozo for testing the pattern for me, and Michelle Westlund for proof reading the pattern!    

This one was made by Leanne Nisha of GUMNUT CROCHET