Christmas Crochet 2012

Alright Folks! The gifts have been given and here's the crochet round-up!

Michigan State Scarf
No pattern for this one. I think I started with a ch 14, but don't quote me on that. I know I used dcs in each stitch across. I ch 2 in the turning chain, because, for me, that helps to even out the rows.
Added a fringe. Thats about it.
6.5mm Hook & Red Heart Super Saver Yarn

Winter Day Moebius Cowl
Made just like I did the Rainy Day Mobeius Cowl last Christmas.
The yarn was "Sensations Rainbow Boucle" and it was NOT fun to work with. They LIE when they say you need a 5.5mm hook. LIES. SO I ended up working 2 strands together and using a 6.5mm hook. Not bad, but if I could find my 9mm hook, I bet that would be even better. Still turned out nice though.

Pineapple Pattern Shawl
I really love this pattern. Its called the Sidewalk Shawl and it is very pretty. Not too complicated once you get going either. I used Red Heart Super Saver and I stopped short of the pattern because it was big enough. Used a 6.5mm hook (are you seeing a trend yet?)
Very pleased with this one overall.

Magnificent Mantle Shawl
Well, this shawl pattern did not work well with this yarn. Again, I used the "Sensations Rainbow Boucle". My crochet center triangle came out so deformed that I frogged it and knit the stupid triangle. Just adding one increase on the first and last st of each row. Size 3 circular knitting needles for the center and 5.5mm crochet hook for the edging.

Golden Glimmer Fan Shawl
I used this Fan Shawl Pattern and Lion Brand Vanna's Choice yarn (in Topaz). I LOVE both the pattern AND the yarn. Used a 3.25mm hook and it worked up beautifully. Of the three shawls that I made up this year, this is my favorite pattern, and it got tons of compliments while I was working on it. 2 skeins wasn't really enough yarn though.

Seaside Scarf & Hat Set
Oh, look, more of the horrible "Sensations Rainbow Boucle" yarn. Why did I buy so much of this?! I knit the scarf using size 9 knitting needles, with the yarn held double. Improvised the hat with a 6.5mm hook and the yarn held double again. I fully intended to make a set of mittens or gloves to go with the set, but I just couldn't make it happen. Cast on to knit them 3 times with 3 different size DPNs and never could get the right gauge. Crochet just seemed like it would have been a nightmare because I couldn't see ANY stitches. At least its pretty.

Kevlar Survival Bracelet
Yes, you heard me. Kevlar. I stumbled across kevlar string on thinkgeek.com and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to make a survival bracelet for my favorite doomsday prepper, Kevin. I worked the first and last rows around a 3/4" parachute buckle and the rest is dc sts. I think the first and last row are sc stitches for stability. You CAN cut through the thread to trim it, if needed, FYI.

Baby Blues Cardigan
This is another pattern that was super easy and super cute. Its called the Don't Be Square Cardigan and it is 2 granny-style hexagons that are simply seamed on the sleeves and back. SO SIMPLE! I made this in September and didn't write down the hook I used, but I know I used scraps of "Red Heart" and "I Love this Yarn".

Summer Shirt Re-Fashion

I bought this shirt on-sale a year or so ago, and even though I loved it, I knew that the way the beads had been attached wouldn't last for very long. Hand-washed carefully for a season, it did really well. Then there was Mexico.

On the way home from our trip to Mexico, the TSA searched our checked luggage, and apparently they opened a bottle of tequila that we were bringing back in order to do a chemical assay (and make sure it was really, in fact, tequila). They didn't exactly close the bottle up tight before they re-packed my bag (aka: shoved everything into it randomly) and it leaked out ALL over everything in the bag. Oh, plus that delayed the bag so it didn't even get on our flight, but anyways....

The lovely beaded shirt got thrown into the washer, with everything else from the bag...oops. Unfortunately, it did not survive its adventure through the washing machine. "But its such a cute shirt!" I thought to myself, "and its so comfy to wear in the summer!"

So, I opted to remove all the beads and start fresh. Lucky for me, the beads were sewn onto a tulle-like mesh fabric, and THAT was then stitched onto the shirt, and just around the edges. Easy-as-pie to remove it and the beads were then cut off and donated to my sister for jewelry-making purposes. I had some black, cream, and baby-pink lace-weight in the house (Aunt Lydia's Crochet Cotton Size 10) and I decided on black for better contrast. The challenge became trying to make a lace piece that fit the odd shape left behind. 





 I ended up making 5 seperate pieces that were sewn together as appliques onto the shirt. (see above left image) The center hexagon and its partner squares all came from Beyond the Square Crochet Motifs and the longer pieces are just 2 rows of dc sts with a shell border around the outside edges. I'm very pleased with how this turned out, and it gave me a great excuse to finish up another lace bracelet to match!

Heirloom Lace Sampler Bracelet

See this post for the story behind the sampler.

If you’re looking to make this lovely cuff bracelet, please be aware that this is NOT A BEGINNER PROJECT. I’m assuming that you’re already familiar with all basic crochet stitches and skills, and that you have at least some experience making lace. I wrote the pattern AFTER finishing the piece, so if you need to fudge the last stitch or two in a row, don’t be surprised.

Thread: Aunt Lydia’s Crochet Cotton Size 10 in Ivory
Hook: 1.5mm metal lace hook
Notions: 2 small buttons, sewing needle, and matching ivory sewing thread

Begin with a multiple of 8 +1, you want the base chain to be enough to reach around your wrist.

Row 1: Sc in 2^nd ch from hook and in each st across. Turn

Row 2: Ch 6, *skip 3 sts, dc2tog in next st, ch 3 and skip 3 sts, dc in next st, ch 3* Repeat from * to * until the end of the row. Turn

Row 3: Ch5, *in the top of the dc2tog from prev row (dc2tog, ch 3, dc2tog), then ch 2 and dc in the top of the dc from the prev row, ch2* Repeat from * to * until the end of the row. Turn.

Row 4: Ch 1, sc in same st *(ch1 + dc) four times into the ch 3 space between the two dc2tog sts (shell made) in the previous row. ch 1 and sc in the top of the next dc from prev row*  Repeat from * to * until the end of the row. Turn.

Row 5. Ch 5, *in the center ch1 space of the shell made in the prev row (dc, ch1, dc, ch1, dc), ch 2, dc in the sc of the prev row, ch 2* Repeat from * to * until the end of the row. Turn.

Row 6: Ch 3, *dc in the first dc of the shell, ch 1, dc in the first ch 1 sp of the shell, ch 1, dc in the 2^nd dc of the shell, ch 1, dc in the 2^nd ch 1 sp of the shell, ch 1, dc in the 3^rd dc of the shell, ch 1, dc2tog over the next ch2 spaces, ch1* Repeat from * to * until the end of the row. Turn.

Row 7: Ch 1, sc in each of the next dc, ch, dc, and ch sts. *In the dc that is the top of the shell (sc, ch3, sc) to make a picot. Sc in each of the next ch, dc, and ch sts. Sc2tog over the next 2 plain dc sts, skipping over the ch, dc2tog, and ch sts. Sc in each of the next ch, dc, and ch sts.* Repeat from * to * until the end of the row. Turn.

Row 8: ch 4, dc in same st. *ch 7. In picot st from prev row (dc, ch1, dc, ch1, dc)* Repeat from * to * until the end of the row. Turn.

Row 9: ch1, sc in same st. *(4dc, ch1, 4dc) all in next ch 7 sp. Sc in each ch 1 space between the dc’s in the picot* Repeat from * to * until the end of the row. Turn.

Row 10: ch 5, *In ch 1 sp at top of loop (puff st, ch 2, puff st), ch 3, dc2tog over the sc’s from prev row, ch 3* Repeat from * to * until the end of the row. Turn.

Row 11: Ch 1, *4sc in each ch 3 sp, and (2sc, ch3, 2sc) into eac ch2 sp between puff sts.

Finishing: turn your work 90 degrees and working back towards Row 1, add a row of sc along the edge of your lace. You may add as many rows as needed on each edge in order to make room to sew on buttons and create button holes.

To make button holes: Hold your button up to the work and measure how many sc’s wide your buttons are, and call this number W. Determine how you will space your buttons. After an initial row or more of sc sts on the edge of your lace, sc in each st across, stopping where you want the button, and ch W sts. Skip an equal number of sts, and continue to sc across. You’ll need to add an additional row of sc’s on top of your button hole row. For this row, sc in each sc, and W+1 sc’s in each ch sp. Fasten off.

I like to add a dot of fray-check onto any place where the thread is knotted or tied in, just to make sure it doesn’t get away, and then I weave in my ends.

BLOCK AND STARCH your lace. Did I mention that you should block and starch this??

You could make this longer and wear it as a choker, and I think it would be a lovely gift for a bride-to-be!

Lace is Lovely

So I recently bought a new book on Crochet Borders. I'm always looking for inspiration on how to edge the baby blankets which never seem to end. (Seriously, I've hit the phase of life where everyone is getting pregnant on purpose!)

Its a great book, and its given me some excellent inspiration. As if there weren't enough projects on my to-do list, I got the chance to put together a beautiful lace sample swatch.

So my plan is to use the edging on a heirloom bridal veil. I think that handmade lace on the edge of a simple oval veil would make a lovely hand-me down that could stay in a family. It was a request for someone, and I wasn't sure if I could do it until I made a sampler.

I love it. I'm just not sure if the narrower, simpler version wouldn't make a more subtle edge. I'm undecided.

Either way, the sample swatch is going to have some buttons added to one side, and some button holes on the other, so my sister can have it as a cuff-bracelet.

In the meantime, I've got myself started on another afghan (ugh), I've got to put the finishing touches on a baby sweater (need to go buy buttons), and I'd like to start doing more lace-work since I find it absolutely stunning.