Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Polar Vortex


Um, yeah, so it's really, really cold.  I'm not a hat person, but even a not-a-hat-person needs a hat when it is 7 degrees before the wind chill.

I recently got three skeins of Bernat Roving in lazuli for the price of one.  Two are being made into the Little Present scarf for me.   So one skein remained for the woman's swirly brimmed hat!




The free pattern is available here: 
http://classycrochet.wordpress.com/2013/10/16/free-pattern-crochet-womens-swirly-brimmed-hat/
(My only mod: I used a J hook because I couldn't find my K)

Great pattern!  Took less than a ball of yarn!  Took only two episodes of The Following!  And it looks kinda not too bad on this not-a-hat-person.





Saturday, January 4, 2014

Floral Fiesta

 
About a year ago I saw this post:

http://yarnaway.blogspot.com/2013/02/falling-out-of-love.html

Like that blogger, I am interested in an afghan where the squares are attached as you go.  I like the colors that she chose.  I wonder if she ever did finish the piece...

The original pattern she used can be found here: http://www.free-crochet.com/detail.html?code=FC01260


Funny thing is, that picture would never have caught my eye.  I don't like the uneven edges or the tassels.  And using a round of white in each motif would make more ends to weave in.  Blerg.  Lesson: I need to be able to see beyond the colors and finishing because I am probably missing out on patterns that I would LOVE!

Anyway this blanket was in my mind when I happened upon a sale on Vickie Howell Sheepish which comes in a lot of brights.  I chose turquoise, red, white, teal, chartreuse and pumpkin.  I think the yarn's 30% wool content will make for a warm throw even though it is an open design.

I started my blanket in late March of last year.  But spring marched into summer, and who wants to make a wool blanket in summer?  I made some progress in the fall but then Christmas crafting got in the way.  The skeins are always sitting in a thirty-one tote (seriously, I get invited to one of these parties like once a month...sigh) ready to be worked on when I'm in between other projects.  I'm hoping that now that Christmas is over I can focus on this blanket and finish it by March!

I am pretty happy with the way it is turning out.  What do you think so far?


Wednesday, January 1, 2014

A Little Present





I have a dear friend and we like to exchange little handmade gifts each year.  The freezing cold weather made me think scarf.  I found some Bernat Roving on sale and I just loved the warmth of it.

Here is an easy little pattern I came up with that just looks so nice with the chunky yarn.


Hook - N/10mm
Yarn - Bernat Roving in Putty (this is a #5 Bulky yarn, 80% acrylic/20% wool, hand wash, dry flat)  I used two entire skeins to make this scarf.

Chain 16
Row 1 - sc across (15)
Row 2 - dc in 1st stitch *sk 1 st, (sc, dc) in next st*  Repeat until last two st.  Sk, sc.  Ch 1. Turn.
Repeat row 2 until you are out of yarn.
Finish off
Join ends to create a circle.

Wear loose:



Wear  wrapped twice:

(*I asked my seven year old to take pictures of me wearing the scarf. Only take a picture of the scarf I said.  Just the scarf.  Not me.  So she took pictures of me making crazy faces.  Sigh.  I have cropped crazy-faced me out for your viewing safety.)

I liked this so much I bought more Bernat Roving yarn in blue (at a post-Christmas sale, natch) to make one for myself!