Archive for January, 2014

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Crochet Squares Throw

January 21, 2014

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Well I finally got my grey crochet throw finished and I’ve written up the pattern for the square.  I had to teach myself crochet to do it, but I’m glad I did because I am a crochet fan now and have been crocheting lots of little other things, too:

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I crocheted 30 squares in all and then just crocheted them together, using a single crochet stitch.  I put a touch of purple and green here and there, but overall the color is gray which I love.

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I have gone over the pattern with a fine tooth comb so that it reads correctly.  Since I am a novice crocheter, I hope the pattern reads okay for you guys.  Let me know if there are any problems with it.

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The “Leaf” Row is probably the hardest row to get down but once you do it a few times I swear you don’t even need the pattern anymore for that row.  The “yarn overs” in that row are very fun to do, I think.  And it zips right along.

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The yarn I used produced the specific drape that I wanted in this throw.  For the first time, I didn’t use wool and it was very different.  The cotton was stiffer to work with but created a more defined stitch than most wools would.  It was a beautiful yarn from Cascade – Ultra Pima. The main color was the Taupe – go to my Ravelry page to see details.

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ELAINE’S CROCHET SQUARE:

for a printable version of this pattern click here

each square is 9 rows

(stars are repeats)

ch 5, join into ring or do Magic Ring

Row 1: Chain 2 (counts as 1 partial dc), 1 partial dc, yo and through the 2 loops, ch1. *Work 2 partial dc & then yo and through all 3 loops, ch1* 7 more times.   8 clusters total.

Row 2:  sl st to 2nd chain,  ch 1.   *1sc, 3 dc, 1 sc  in next chain loop space*.  Repeat in each ch loop around.  8 total.

Row 3:  sl st between two petals, ch 1, 1 sc in center of petal, ch 5.   *1 sc in center of next petal, ch 5.*  Repeat. 8 total. sl st to beginning ch 1.

Row 4:  * 1 sc, 5 dc, 1 sc  in the ch5  loop space *   repeat in each ch5 loop space around – 8 total.  Sl st at the beginning of the next petal

Row 5: (leaf row):  ch 1 (=1 hdc)  *ch 4, 1 sc in center of petal, ch 3.

Make  Leaf: yo twice, hook into last sc of petal, yo = 4 loops on hook.
yo and through 2 loops 2 times – 2 loops remain.
yo twice and insert hook into same sc of the petal work, yo = 5 loops on hook
yo and through 2 loops 2 times  = 3 loops remain
yo twice and insert hook into first sc of next petal, yo = 6 loops on hook.
yo and through 2 loops 2 times = 4 loops remain
yo twice and insert hook into same sc, yo = 7 loops on hook
yo and through 2 loops 2 times = 5 loops on hook
yo and through all 5 loops, (this completes 1 leaf)

ch 4,1 sc in center of dc of next petal, ch 4, 1 hdc between next 2 petals

Repeat from * 3 more times

ch 4, ending last repeat with sl st to 2nd ch at beg in rnd instead of 1 hdc.

Row 6: ch 3 (counts as 1 dc),   *4 dc in the ch 4 loop, 1 dc in the hdc.
make corner:  3 dc, , 2 tr, ch 4, 2 tr, 3 dc, 1 dc in the hdc*  repeat all the way around, ending with a 4dc and a sl st to 2nd ch at beg of round

Row 7:  ch 3 (counts as 1dc), dc in each stitch all the way around. When you come to a corner: 3 dc, ch2, 3 dc in the ch 4 space makes a corner.

sl st to 2nd ch at beg of round

Row 8:  (skip space row) ch 4 (counts as a dc) ,* sk next dc, dc in next dc, ch1  all the way across. Make  corner:  2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc in corner ch 2 space.    Repeat all the way around.

sl st to 2nd ch at beg of round

Row 9:  ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), dc in every ch 1 sp and every dc across.  Corner:  2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc

I made 30 squares and crocheted them together, just using single crochet.

For the edging, I did a series of 9 stitches all the way across, making little arches, working one stitch in every stitch on the throw:  1 sc, 2 dc, 1 tr, 2 dc, 1 sc, 2 ss.   I just repeated that little arch all the way around.

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adding the edging

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Here is the same square crocheted up in some fine linen thread that I’ve been experimenting with on a tiny crochet hook – so fun!

Crochet Squares Throw
Hook:  3.5  mm (E)
Yarn:  Cascade Ultra Pima
Ravelry Page

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Yvonne’s Purple Knit Stars

January 15, 2014

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I made some of these these knitted stars last year and loved them so much that I made more last month for my friend who loves the color purple.   Her colors in her house are beautiful plums and ivories, so that’s what I made for her.

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This is an easy pattern and fun to make.  It only takes about an hour and a half to do one star.  I used various sized needles to get various sized stars.  You can stuff the yarns just with the weaved in ends or, for a puffier look, with some polyfill.

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The yarn I used was Stonehedge, which is a great soft yarn made right here in Michigan.  I love it and it comes in lots of colors.  I crocheted a little hanging loop on each star and slipped a white satin ribbon through each one so they could be hung.  These would also be pretty, though, without the hangers and just thrown in a bowl on the table.

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Pattern: Knit Stars
Needle: various for various sizes
Yarn: Shepherd’s Wool
Ravelry Page

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Finding the Time to Knit

January 5, 2014

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I’ve knit for 24 years now and in that time, I’ve been a very busy person.  I’ve raised three children, worked full time, worked part time, and then finally stayed at home and now I write a food blog. But in all that time, I’ve always found time to knit. Always.  And when people see my knitting projects, the one remark they always make is, “Gee, I wish I had time to knit”.  But they do.  They just don’t know it.

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Here is a photo of me 23 years ago with my second child, Nick, the day I am leaving the hospital.  Note the item on the bed as I am waiting to go home.  My knitting bag.  Yes, I knit in the hospital after having him.  I always take my knitting bag with me if I think I might get the chance to get in a few rows.  That is how you get a project done.  It may take a while, but you get it done.

I think the biggest problem with people thinking that they don’t have time to knit is that they think they have to have an actual block of time to just sit down and knit. Well, I can tell you that I almost never do that.  I knit when I’m watching TV or a movie, when I’m riding in the car, when I’m on a plane or maybe when I’m sitting and chatting with someone. I almost never sit down and just knit.  I might listen to an audiobook as I knit or talk on the phone. I take my knitting sometimes if I know I’m going to be waiting in the doctor’s office.  If you watch TV in the evening and knit for just 20 minutes every night while you watch, you will get something done.

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I usually have two projects going at the same time – one that maybe is a little more complicated, that requires me to follow a chart and so demands that I have to focus a little and a second project that is just “idiot” knitting and doesn’t require that I follow a pattern.  Then I can decide which one I can work on in any situation.

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I hope for 2014 you will be inspired and start a project with the commitment that you are going to pick it up whenever you can.  I have my knitting sitting in a basket on the sofa so that it’s very accessible.  I have a knitting bag that I can just throw it into and take it with me if I need to.

Also, if you haven’t joined Ravelry yet, do so right away.  It’s a community of knitters worldwide who share projects, thoughts and tips about knitting.  It’s a constant source of inspiration for me and might be for you, too.  Reading good knitting blogs like Yarn Harlot and Little Cotton Rabbits helps, too.

Now go forth and knit!

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