Saturday 25 January 2014

Upon popular request: Scarf tutorial.

I have made these scarves for several of my friends, and had some photos posted on FB.  Quite a number of people asked me to post the pattern, but as I made these scarves after just seeing a photo on the web, I promised that the next time I made one I would jot down what I did. But since I'm a blogger now, I decided to make a photo tutorial.

This is the scarf that I am going to make.





Stitches used
Slip stitch (sl st)
Chain stitch (ch)
Single crochet (sc)
Double crochet (dc)
Half treble crochet (htc)
Treble crochet (tc)
Half double treble crochet (hdt)
Double treble crochet (dtc)
Triple treble crochet (ttc)



My scarves are made with a crochet hook #5 and yarn that is slightly to thin for a hook #5, this ensures that the finished scarf is not to stiff.
I use 3 to 5 different contrasting or matching colors.

Start by making 6 granny squares.

Ch 4, sl st closed or start with magic loop.
Round 1: ch 3, 2 dc, *ch 2, 3 dc* 3x, end with 2 ch, sl st to 3rd ch.
Round 2: in ch 2 of round 1, ch 3, 2 dc, *ch 1, in next ch 2, 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc* 3x, ch 1, 3 dc in first ch 2, sl st to 3rd ch.
Round 3: in ch 2 of round 2, ch 3, 2 dc, *ch 1, 3 dc in ch 1 space, ch 1, in next ch 2, 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc* 3x, ch 1, 3 dc in ch 1 space, ch 1, 3 dc in first ch 2, sl st to 3rd ch.
Round 4: in ch 2 of round 3, ch 3, 2 dc, *ch 1, 3 dc in ch 1 space, ch 1, 3 dc in ch 1 space, ch 1, in next ch 2, 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc* 3x, ch 1, 3 dc in ch 1 space, ch 1, 3 dc in ch 1 space, ch 1, 3 dc in first ch 2, sl st to 3rd ch.

Join the squares together to form the interior of the scarf. My scarf is now ± 80 cm long.


Now start round 1 in one of the ch 1 spaces, ch 4, *1 sc in next ch space, ch 3* all the way around, on the corners, in ch 2 space 1 sc, ch 2, 1 sc, end with sl st in first ch.
Round 2: in ch 3 space ch 3, 2 dc, ch 1, *in next ch 3 space 3 dc, ch 1* all the way around, on the corners in ch 2 space, 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, end with sl st in 3rd ch.


Round 3: in one of the ch 1 spaces, ch 5, *sc in next ch 1 spaces, ch 4* all the way around, on the corners same.
Round 4: in any ch 4 space, ch 3, 3 dc, ch 1, * in next ch 4 space 4 dc, ch 1* all the way around, on the corners you have 2 ch 4 loops, in the first: 4 dc, ch 1, 2 dc, in the second: 2 dc, ch 1, 4 dc, ch 1, end with sl st in 3rd ch.




Round 5in one of the ch 1 spaces, ch 7, *sc in next ch 1 spaces, ch 6* all the way around, on the corners same.
Round 6: in any ch 6 space, ch 3, 1 dc, 1 htc, 2 tc, 1 htc, 2 dc *in next ch 6 space 2 dc, 1 htc, 2 tc, 1 htc, 2 dc* all the way around and on the corners do the same, end with sl st in 3rd ch.



You can now see the ruffles appearing.

Round 7: here the chain loops are not crocheted in previous rows ch 1 spaces, but instead in the middle of the lobes. On any lobe, between row 6's treble crochets, attache and chain 8, *sc between next lobe's treble crochets, ch 7*, repeat all around, sl st in first ch.


Round 8: final round, in any loop ch 3, 2 htc, 1 tc, 2 dtc, 1 tc, 2 htc, 1 dc, *now sc in sc of previous row, in next loop 1 dc, 2 htc, 1 tc, 2 dtc, 1 tc, 2 htc, 1 dc* repeat all the way around, sl st in 3rd ch. 


Work in yarn ends if you have not done so after each round. I prefer to keep on top of working in my yarn ends as I hate having to do a whole bunch of them at once.

Voila! that's the scarf almost done.



To finish and make sure the scarf stays around my neck, I crochet a 3D flower.
I am adding a link here, they explain it far better than I could.
http://skamama.blogspot.be/2007/11/5-petal-flower.html


To determine where to attach the flower to the scarf, I drape around my dress form, but any other volunteer will do.
I start by folding over the scarf lengthwise in the middle at the top edge of the granny squares, that's the middle of the neck. Drape the left side across the chest. Take the right top corner of the scarf and hold up to left shoulder. One of the corner loops of round 5 will act as the button hole to pull the flower through.










So ... that's my scarf done. I hope you have fun creating your own. 
I would really like to see pictures of your creations and would also appreciate feedback about the pattern.




Sunday 5 January 2014

Making good on a promise: Crocheting a Flourish Jacket

For Christmas, my sis only got a symbolic gift ... the promise of a self-made cardigan/jacket.
As I wanted her feedback on the color and shape she would prefer, I wrapped some yarn, a pair of knitting needles and a pattern as her present.


And ah, don't I know my sis well ... she loved the pattern of the flouncy jacket 

She would love the jacket in an Aqua/Teal color. The yarn store was finally open again today, and I went to get some very soft yarn by Lang & Co. (a 97% cotton/3% polyester blend - for a crochet hook 4/4.5) http://www.langyarns.com/index.php?nav=7,45&prod_id=85 Color 707.0072


I made a beginning this evening and must say it's a very agreeable yarn to work with.


What I also like about this pattern, is that you work it from the neck down. It means that you crochet just as long as you need the jacket and/or sleeves to be.

6 January 2014

After the 2nd ball of yarn I have now gotten under the arms, and am crocheting the body of the jacket. The design on the back of the jacket is also starting to take shape.



8 January 2014

Motoring along! I'm really pleased with the speed at which I am crocheting. Love how it starts to look.



11 January 2014

Just one week into the making of the jacket and I'm almost done.
I almost can't believe how fast I am. At this rate, sis will have her Christmas present very soon.




All that is now missing is the ruffle all around the front and bottom of the jacket.

15 January 2014

I'm sad ... sooooo sad! I ran out of yarn. This is how far I got.


The yarn store does not have my yarn available, now I need to wait for the new order to come in.

Out of frustration I started the same jacket in another type of yarn. I can't be without something to do.
My daughter thinks I'm a machine, she does not believe how fast I am going.



18 January 2014

As I am still waiting for the yarn to complete the jacket for my sis, so to keep my hands busy, I finished the second jacket. 



The question is now: "to sell or to keep?" - and "what will keep my hands busy while I still wait for the yarn?"

I'm really crabby, the yarn store promised to get the yarn in by Tuesday, Wednesday at the latest. Today Thursday still nothing arrived. At this pace I will not be able to finish the jacket before Saturday, when I see my sister again.

14 February 2014

Finally went to pick up the yarn to finish my sister's jacket! 
Yey just finished it this evening, and am very glad that I finally will be able to give her her Christmas present.




Sis, don't quite know when I will be able to get to Antwerp, but here you are, your jacket is ready!