Friday, October 3, 2014

So Simple Scarf

So Simple Scarf
a crochet pattern by Claudia A. Lowman


Photo: Yarn Bee Diva Yarn with sequins. Color: Bali

Description:
This crochet pattern is a winter scarf that can be made of your choice of yarn using any desired hook and to your preferred length. While you can use any hook size, larger sizes allow the scarf flexibility for comfortable wear.

This scarf is super easy and yet incredibly beautiful...and, it makes up quickly; it can be crocheted in a short evening from start to finish.

To access a printable version of this pattern CLICK HERE.

Here's a close up look at two of the scarves made of Yarn Bee Diva sequined yarn:


What you will need:
Yarn —Use any yarn that you think will make a nice scarf. Bulkier yarns (size 5) are a perfect density but regular worsted weight (size 4 density) is okay but if using this density, double strands works even better. Ombres are excellent for this project. As you can see from the photo, the rows almost look like they were crocheted with different colors instead of continuous yarn. You can also double strand this project pairing up two different yarns. For instance, pairing an eyelash, fun fur or other specialty yarn with a worsted weight yarn would make up beautifully. It is a good stash buster in this regard, to use what is on hand.

• The Diva Sequin yarn scarf above required only one skein (3.5 oz, 180 yards) including the fringe with just inches left over. The scarf measures about 60 inches long. More yardage/ounces will likely be required for most other yarns. While writing this pattern, I am using Loops and Threads Charisma yarn (a bulky yarn, size 5 density) in 3.5 oz skeins that will require a little more than one skein to finish it plus make the fringe.

Photo above: 3 different skeins of Loops and Threads Charisma yarn.

Should you crochet a scarf and then find there is not enough for fringe, you can make the fringe in a solid color yarn using another skein you have on hand.
Crochet hook: Size N (10.0 mm) for the body of the scarf; a size J or K for the fringe.
    It is important to use a large hook to make sure that the scarf is flexible for winding around the neck or making a simple knot. For bulky, size 5 yarns or double strand yarns, a size N (10.0 mm); for regular worsted weight yarn (size 4) single stranded, a size J (6.0 mm). If using regular worsted weight yarn, but double strands, use the size N.
Tapestry needle
Scissors

Handy Tip:
A good rule of thumb for determining the length of the starting chain is to make it a few inches taller than the height of the person for whom the scarf is intended. For example, a person who is 5 feet 4 inches tall, the starting chain might measure that heigh or a few inches more.

The Scarf:
1. Loosely chain a long length to start. Leave a long tail of about 8 inches (20 cm) to
   incorporate into the fringe at the end, instead of weaving in or securing
   otherwise.
2. Crochet 1 hdc in each chain. Ch 2, turn.
3. Crochet 1 hdc in the back loop of each of the hdc’s. Ch 2 and turn.
4. Continue step three until you have the desired width of the scarf which should
   measure at least 3.5—4+ inches across (9 to 13 cm) is a good width.
   Leave a long yarn tail to incorporate later into the fringe.

Fringe:
1. To make the fringe, the size N hook is too large. Use a size J or K.
2. Wind the yarn around and around a book and cut on one long edge. (see photo, right)  
3. Separate the cut lengths into units of three or four per section, depending on how full you want your fringe.
4. Using your crochet hook and starting at one lower corner, come up from the back to the front with your hook and place one unit of fringe (folded in half) around the hook and pull through enough to make a loop through which to pull the fringe. Remember to grab any yarn tail into this stitch to incorporate if one is at this position.  
 5. Complete both corners of one end and then place a fringe in the center. Add fringe between the corners and the center, then add one or two between each corner and the center.
6. Finally, when all the fringe has been added, trim the fringe ends to make a nice, even finished edge.

Other scarf ideas:
Team scarf: Use two school or team colors, such as green and yellow, to make stripes by crocheting 2 rows of green, 2 of yellow, and then back to green for 2 rows.

Stash busting: Crochet each row using a different color to use up small quantities of yarn.

Some scarf examples:



You are welcome to make scarves to keep, give or sell. I just ask that you do not claim the pattern as your own or reproduce it digitally or in print to sell.


 So Simple Scarf by Claudia A. Lowman, Copyright 2014. All Rights Reserved.

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Two-color Scrubbies


(Photo above shows the two-color cotton side of the scrubbies)

This is a fast and fun little crochet project for the kitchen. Use scrubbies to scour your dishes, pots, pans and even vegetables. A scrubby is also a great little add-on gift to include with a kitchen set: making a matching set of a potholder, dish cloth, towel holder and scrubby would be a perfect shower, birthday or Mother’s Day gift.

To access a downloadable version to print CLICK HERE.

Description:
This is a two-sided, two-color crocheted scrubby: one side is tulle (soft nylon netting); the other side is comprised of two colors of cotton yarn. The tulle side is effective for scrubbing stubborn food residue without scratching while the cotton side is gentle on hands when in use.


The two sides are worked independently, then placed back to back and joined with a simple edging. The completed size measures about 3.25 to 3.5 inches (about 8.5 to 9 mm).

The photo above and to the left shows four of the scrubbies with the tulle side face up. The green and white scrubby in the front shows the cotton side. 

What you will need:
• medium weight 100% cotton
• tulle on a 6 inch spool
• a size H (5 mm) crochet hook
• scissors

About the yarn:
So little cotton yarn is needed that you can use up some of those little leftover balls that you didn’t have the heart to toss out but didn’t know what else you could do with them. If you live in the U.S., the most common cotton yarn would be Peaches & Creme (Pisgah Yarn & Dying Co) or Sugar 'n Cream (Lily brand).

About the tulle:
You can purchase spools of 6-inch high tulle in craft stores (often in the wedding aisles) or in some fabric stores that carry wedding fabrics and accessories. To make this project you will need to work with 3-inch wide tulle. A good way to achieve the width is to cut the whole spool in half using an electric knife to go straight through the tulle and the cardboard tube. Now you have two halves of just the right width to make LOTS of scrubbies. 

Pictured below are the two halves of one six-inch spool of tulle (some tulle was already used from the right half and that is why it is not a full as the other one. 

To cut, I take my electric knife out on the porch, lay the spool on its side and cut. Of course I would be careful only to cut the spool and not the porch! If I have to, I turn the spool over and finish cutting from the other side to the center.

I have tried purchasing tulle by the yard and then cutting but it’s very difficult to keep the netting straight and try to cut even strips. Basically, you wind up with bits of netting all over, uneven strips and having to join with new strips every round or so. Tulle by the spool (hey that rhymes) is the easiest. After cutting, you just keep using it off the half spool kind of like you would crochet with a skein or ball—you just keep crocheting.

Okay, so, let’s get started.

Side A, the tulle side
Begin: With the H hook, either ch 4 and join to make a circle or crochet a magic loop. Ch 1.
Round 1: 9 sc into the circle. Join with a sl st. Ch 1.
Round 2: 2 sc in each stitch around. Join with a sl st. Ch 1
Round 3: Sc in the first st and in the following st. (2 sc in the next st, sc in next 2 sts )* repeat from * around. Join with a sl st. Ch 1.
Round 4: Sc in the same st, sc in the next 2 sts. (2 sc in the next st, then sc in next 3 sts)* repeat from * around. Ch 1.
Round 5: Sc in the same st, (2 sc in next st, sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in the next 5 sts)* repeat from * around. Join with a sl st. Ch 1. Leave a 3-inch tulle tail and secure it. No need to cut it any shorter as you can tuck this in later. 

Side B, the cotton, two-color side
Begin: With Color A and the H hook, either ch 4 and join to make a circle or crochet a magic loop. Ch 1.
Round 1: 10 hdc into the circle. Join with a sl st. Ch 2.
Round 2: 2 hdc into each stitch. Join with a sl st.
Round 3: Join Color B. Ch 2, 1 hdc into the same st, then (1 hdc in the next st, 2 hdc in the following st)* repeat from * around.

Using your tapestry needle, secure your cotton yarn ends on the back. Make sure NOT to cut Color A as you will be using this yarn to make the edging going through both sides to make your scrubby.

Edging:
With wrong sides facing, match the tulle and cotton sides of the scrubby. I have been crocheting with the tulle side toward me but it is strictly personal preference which way you want to crochet the edging. Tuck in the 3-tulle yarn tail. 

Crocheting through both the tulle and the cotton sides to join, crochet the following simple scalloped edging.

Using Color A cotton yarn that is still attached, ch 2, then hdc in the same starting point. (Sl st in the next st and 3 hdc in the following st)* repeat from * around. You will complete the edging by crocheting one last hdc into your starting st to complete that scallop. This final hdc into your starting scallop makes a seamless ending.

Cut your yarn. Using your tapestry needle secure your final yarn tail.

All done!

A little tip:
When I use a scrubby, I make sure to squeeze out the extra water and then I pull the cotton side up to allow more air to get inside. I do this to make sure that my scrubby stays fresh and doesn't get sour. Another possibility to ensure aeration is to put a little ball of tulle inside between the two layers before joining with your edging.

You are welcome to use this pattern to make as many scrubbies to give or sell as you please. However, do not claim the pattern as your own or sell it, as it is copyrighted. Thanks, enjoy! Have fun making these. 


 Copyright 2014, Claudia A. Lowman. All Rights Reserved.


Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Let's Make Stitch Markers!!!


Introduction: Who doesn’t like pretty things and a little bling from time to time? How about a little knitting or crochet "jewelry" while creating your projects?

Well, that’s what I was thinking when I asked cindylen* to join me in hosting an event on making stitch markers in the From Trash to Treasures group on ravelry.

Here’s our opening graphic that we used to invite members and welcome them to our little June event, though this appears much smaller here than it was in our thread.


*cindylen is Cindy’s ravelry name. In ravelry, we protect our identities through self-selected names and avatars as we participate in groups and events.

Our purposes were to learn (or hone) stitch marker skills to make sets for giving, sharing or selling; and to share a little fun event which would culminate in a post on my blog. The event has completed so it's time to post our accomplishments. 

The Categories: cindylen and I put our heads together and came up with a few suggested categories for making stitch markers. Since this is a group that states it is focused on "recycling, upcycling, reusing and repurposing," we decided to include a category or two with these attributes in mind. 

1.   Made from scratch stitch markers: creating beads or embellishments from clay, wood, paper, yarn or ?
2.   Nature stitch markers: things found in the woods, at the beach, in your own backyard or ?
3.   Repurposed stitch markers: made from things that started life as something else but used for this purpose.
4.   Themed or holiday stitch markers: a central theme (food, animals, flowers, Christmas, etc.).
5.   Wire Wonders: shapes made from wire.
6.   Presentation sets: complete sets of markers with gift giving in mind.

We hope you will want to create sets of your own. They make wonderful gifts for knitting and crochet friends. Then again, maybe it’s time to treat yourself and make a set of stitch markers just for you! (Don’t forget to treat yourself once in awhile—you deserve it.)

Made from Scratch category
Flower Garden I by cindylen

This set of knitting stitch markers, made from Shrinky Dinks, is a flower lover's treasure featuring such flowers as a rose, sunflower, daisy and daffodil. 
Made from Scratch category
Garden Goodies by delights

Hand-formed from Fimo clay and baked to hardness, this set of knitting stitch markers includes peas, an eggplant, a potato (complete with eyes) and a colorful carrot.
Made from Scratch category
Flower Garden II by cindylen

This second set of six flower knitting stitch markers by cindylen and also made from Shrinky Dinks, includes beads to help weight the markers. 

Repurposed category
From the Tackle Box by daytripper

How unique is this? This set of knitting stitch markers is from daytripper's husband's tackle box (with his permission, of course). daytripper used all sorts of fishing goodies including fishing line, beads that look like salmon eggs and a pink Colorado blade lure.
Repurposed category
Blue Jeans Beads by cindylen

Another unique set of stitch markers: center beads made from rolled strips of denim from an old pair of jeans. cindylen rolled and glued and rolled and glued to concoct this set. Notice that one bead is different from the other four. The purpose of a unique marker is to mark the beginning of a round or the start of a stitch sequence.


Repurposed category
JoAnn Beads by cindylen

This set could fit comfortably in either the Repurposed or Made from Scratch category. cindylen rolled these cylindrical beads from a page from a JoAnn Fabric and Craft Store circular. These are attractive AND functional.
Wire Wonders category
Rainbow Beads by Floriental

Floriental specialized mostly in crochet stitch makers bending wire in unique ways to produce her sets. For crochet projects, the markers attach to stitches themselves, rather than slide on a needle, as in knitting. This set of Rainbow Beads includes graded colors in one hue per bead—eight in all.

Wire Wonders category
Simple Swirls by Floriental

Here's a set of eight crochet stitch markers made from a gold colored wire that Floriental bent to shape. This set is a more understated set. 
Wire Wonders category
Rainbow Beads by Floriental

Floriental specialized mostly in crochet stitch makers bending wire in unique ways to produce her sets. For crochet projects, the markers attach to stitches themselves, rather than slide on a needle, as in knitting. This set of Rainbow Beads includes graded colors in one hue per bead—eight in all.

Wire Wonders category
Lucky Horseshoes by Floriental

Eight seems to be the magic number for Floriental's sets of markers. Here's another set of burnished gold in a U shop or horseshoe shape for the crocheter. 
Wire Wonders category
Easy and Elegant by Floriental

Floriental was on a roll making stitch markers! Here are two more sets in two different metal tones.  


Nature Stitch Markers category
Back to Nature by cindylen

In this event cindylen was the most adventuresome, trying more categories and adapting more materials. Here is her set of knitting stitch markers wood discs.
Themed Stitch Markers category
By the Sea by delights

delights made over two dozen sets of stitch markers during this event, most of which were themed. This one features a seahorse as the one unique marker in this set of four. She coupled it with a handcrafted box and tag for a complete themed set. 

Themed Stitch Markers category
Lucky You by delights

Here's a themed set of five knitting stitch markers featuring purple dice beads with one unique marker of a lucky horseshoe charm.  

Themed Stitch Markers category
Christmas by delights

Actually, these are two distinctly different sets: the two gingerbread cookies are knitting stitch markers and the two Christmas bulbs are crochet markers. About the crochet markers: notice the clasp at the top. This type of clasp is called the lobster claw. It's a jewelry making supply but works perfectly for crochet stitch markers. This set could also fit in the repurposed category as the gingerbreads were earrings and the bulbs were plastic Christmas decor.


Presentation Set category
An Apple a Day by delights

This is a set of Fimo clay markers, which could also fit in the Made from Scratch or Theme category but here it is shown as a presentation set—a complete gift set. delights is making sets of markers for two of her Etsy shops. Here is (from L-R) an apple, a pear, an orange and a plum.
Presentation Set category
Asian Inspired by delights

Here's a striking set of four knitting stitch markers in black, gold and red with one unique stitch marker.