New Crochet Pattern Release: This and That Scarf!

I am excited to announce the release of the This and That Scarf. It is all about having fun with basic stitches to create texture and interest! Every row is different from the last and the scarf is made in panels, so it is a nice take along project that will keep you interested and wanting to see what it next to crochet. The stitch combination looks very different but is equally beautiful on both sides of the scarf. Your choice of colors can transform the look of the scarf, so it is a good idea to make a color swatch to know the best order of the colors. I am especially looking forward to seeing some finished projects on Ravelry, so if you make the scarf I would love to see what you do with your color choices!

Skill Level: Intermediate

Hooks Required: G/4.00mm & H/5.00MM

Yarn: King Cole Merino Blend DK

 ***To celebrate the launch of The This and That scarf, I am offering a special 50% discount on this pattern to my readers through May 31st! Just use the code: ThisThat50 at checkout.***

 I am honored to announce that this week there is an interview on Marly Bird's blog all about how I got started in fiber arts and about my eWoodStory and Spinerations family collaborations.  If you would like to know more about my adventures and journey in fiber arts, check out the interview written by Kathryn Vercillo.

New Free Pattern: Queen of Hearts Crochet Necklace

 Are you looking for a fun little project to crochet in time for Valentines Day? I designed the Queen of Hearts Necklace pattern to celebrate one of my favorite necklace themes, the heart! My most favorite jewelry pieces are those featuring hearts. Visions of hearts trigger positive happy feelings, so I always love wearing them.

This heart necklace has some unique details and make it satisfying to crochet and a special piece to create.  Along with loving hearts I have long had an obsession with bows, so I thought why not combine the two! 

I used metallic yarns to create this necklace, but any DK weight yarn will do. It just takes a bit of yarn, so you just might have some small bits in your stash that would be perfect for this necklace!

The pattern is available to download for FREE in my Ravelry store. If you make the necklace, I would love so much to see you post project photos on Ravelry!

Happy Crocheting everyone!

Foundation HDC vs. Chain & HDC

I am currently designing a new scarf pattern and am contemplating the best way to begin.  I am deciding weather to use Foundation Half Double Crochet, or Chain & Half Double Crochet. Foundation Half Double Crochet is widely popular, for obvious reasons: it combines two steps in one and you don't have to work into a fiddly chain. I did a poll on Instagram asking which method do people prefer, and the majority said Foundation Half Double Crochet. Although that helped me to make my decision about which method I should use in the pattern, I am still torn myself as to which method I like to use most. I don't think anyone really likes to count hundreds of chains or to work into the ridge on the underside of a long chain, but there are some times that I feel that chain and half double crochet are the way to go. Especially when I am working with finer yarns, because I find it more difficult to keep an even tension with Foundation Half Double Crochet. I also find it easiest to begin working into the back loop of the chain. My favorite time to use Foundation Half Double Crochet is with heavier weight yarns. 

The pattern I am working on uses a double knitting yarn, but I will go with the public opinion of Foundation Half Double Crochet, but possibly include instructions for both methods, so everyone will be happy!

In Search of the Best Large Size Crochet Hooks!

 

Lately, I have been needing some crochet hooks in larger sizes and I asked my followers on Instagram for their recommendations. The first recommendation was for Prym Ergonomic hooks. I began to research them online and was particularly intrigued by a review stating that these hooks helped to make stitches more even and uniform. That made them sound magical!

A local yarn store in Kuwait that I frequent, sells a lot of Prym products, so I was hoping to find them here, but unfortunately, they don't stock them. I finally ordered them from Minerva Crafts in the UK. They were on sale at a good discount, so I thought why not try them! I was especially excited when I found out that these hooks had won the Reddot Design Awards in 2014, even more reason to try them! I see that they do make different color handles, but the website I bought them from only has them in this dark violet color. 

I just received them this week! My initial first impression was that the plastic is nice and smooth and the shape of the head of the hook looks like it will hold the yarn well, but I am thinking that it could be more pointed at the top of the head to more easily be inserted into stitches. I like the grip on the handle, but somehow I wish it extended a little higher up on the shaft as I hold my hooks closer to the head, where there is no rubber grip. My thought is that I will have to train myself to hold these hooks in a different way in order to be really comfortable using them. I just feel I have more control of my work when I hold the hook higher up. I will say that the ergonomic shape of the handle is good and it feels comfortable to maneuver, even in the larger sizes.

I purchased sizes 7.00mm, 9.00mm, 10.00mm, and 12.00mm. I plan to try crocheting with them more before my next order of hooks, which are the Tulip Etimo Grand hooks. I plan to do a comparison review after I have received and used them to let you know which I like the best. Stay tuned!

Designing a Crochet Bun Cover!

My daughter is a figure skater and expressed an interest in having me crochet a bun cover for her to not only keep her hair in place as she moves across the ice, but also to be pretty. Being the accessory lover I am, I jumped on the idea! The key factor in making a bun cover in my opinion is the thread choice! If you use thread that is too thick, it will cover the hair too much and be too prominent, and too thin will be too delicate. I ended up using Aunt Lydia's Classic 10 thread. I was thrilled to have the perfect thread in my stash, as going out to shop for it during lockdown was impossible!  I began by focusing on the design of the center motif so that it would be large enough to cover the diameter of her bun. Once I had made the motif large enough, I began decreasing until it was small enough to fit snugly around the bun near the head without being too small to fit over the bun. Finally, I crocheted it to an elastic hair band. 

Because I always block everything, I had to find an innovative way to block it. I ended up cutting a piece out of a plastic bag and covering a yarn ball that was about the size of her bun. I sprayed the cover with water, covered the ball with plastic, and pinned the cover into shape over the ball.  When it was dry, I removed the pins and told her that she could glue crystals on it, but after trying out several crystal options, she decided to keep this one without crystals. I am planning a second one that will have crystals added! Stay tuned!

New Gloria Headband Crochet Pattern!

This pattern was something I designed a while back, but I never went through with submitting it. Since I haven't had a haircut since January and probably won't see the inside of a salon before September, I went looking for the sample to keep my long hair back. I was so pleased with how comfortable and easy to wear it was. It made me feel the best about my hair that I have in months! I have literally worn it every day since I found it! All of this prompted me to go ahead and write up the pattern. The fact that I crocheted it in a metallic yarn makes me feel like I am dressing up, even when I am staying at home. Really refreshing, after months of wearing a "uniform" consisting of a t-shirt and yoga pants! 

This takes a fraction of a skein of yarn and can be crocheted in an afternoon. For the next 24 hours I am offering this pattern for free in my Ravelry Pattern Store. Download it now! If any of you make one, I would really love to see your finished bands on Ravelry in the projects section!