City Scarf

Once upon a time, I had a ball of Noro Silk Garden.

Just one.  It was an odd ball I got on clearance.  I'd never worked with highfalutin' Noro before, so it was special--and so pretty!  The vivid color stripes were stunning.  I knew I needed to make something with a simple stitch pattern that would show off the color.  But what could I make that was reasonably functional and only used one ball?

After much deliberation, I finally decided to just work it up into a plain ole scarf.  I made it skinny so it would be plenty long and put some fringe on the end.  Nothing fancy, but at least it made something useful and pretty out of the yarn.

Well, my last resort project turned out better than I thought.  I loved the look, I loved how quick and easy it was, and I loved how it used only one ball and let the self-striping colors do the work.  It was the perfect project for artsy self-striping yarn, and I went on to make (and even sell) lots more.  And at long last I'm sharing the pattern with you.

Country Rose Neck Kerchief

This pattern is my submission for the crochet blog contest by elisabethandree. The challenge was to use one of these stitch patterns to crochet an original design. Inspired by the cravats of the late 1700s and early 1800s, I decided to crochet a neck kerchief for the “adult shawl or scarf” category. I thought a kerchief would be a bit of a unique take on the scarf category, as well as being quick to crochet. The final kerchief turned out more Western than Colonial, but I’m very happy with the result.

I used stitch variation #1, a simple combination of single crochet and chains. It’s a very easy pattern, but it gives the fabric enough texture and polish to make a sophisticated wearable. I crocheted my scarf with Knit Picks “Comfy Fingering” (color peony), a soft cotton blend with a subtle sheen. Crocheted on a G (4.25mm) hook, it makes a comfortable fabric with great drape and just enough definition to hold the stitch. I’m extremely pleased with the result and would definitely use this yarn and stitch combination for other projects.

This pattern is incredibly flexible and could be made with almost any yarn. There is no specific gauge; since you start at the point, you can simply work a few rows and see if the fabric suits you. I think I might try it in bulky yarn for a winter wearable. This pattern would also make for a great hair kerchief, or, as shown by my obliging cat, a scarf for a pet. ;)

New Pattern & a New Focus

You may've noticed, this blog has been quiet for awhile.  But it isn't dead!  No, in fact I just cleaned out all the dust this morning, updated everything, and added a new page - a Gallery!

Wherefore?  Because I have rededicated this blog to be used as a home for my free knit and crochet patterns.  That's right - you'll only find fiber-related gibberish here!  Free projects, new published patterns, and the occasional fiber tip.  If you like yarn, please follow me and share the link with your fibery friends!

With that in mind, here's the specs for a new crochet pattern I released recently... Vanya Armlets!

New Pattern - Jacob's Ladder Scarf

A new for-sale crochet pattern is live... Jacob's Ladder Scarf!

Warmth meets style with this long and squishy scarf! Crocheted with chunky yarn and horizontal rows, the front-post stitch pattern works up quickly - takes as little as 5 hours to crochet! You can adjust the length of your scarf easily by adjusting the beginning chain—just be sure you don’t run out of yarn!

Knitting Tip - cheat with straight needles

Did you know? If you have two sets of the same size in straight knitting needles, you can actually have three projects going! Yes: three of the needles can each hold a project, and the fourth is swapped between the projects as the working needle. Nifty!