Crochet Wild Oleander Hooded Scarf

I got so distracted between the JRYC, Marie Greene coming to visit DWW again, Yarncentrick and MDSW that I just realized I haven't posted since March.  I've definitely been busier than ever making and doing things. I just haven't had much time to write about them, even though I really want to.  So I'm going to try to do this update chronologically starting with a crochet project I started early March and finished at the end of March.

The Wild Oleander Hooded Scarf was so much fun to make, especially with the colorful variegated Sesame yarn from Berroco!

  

When you buy the pattern on Ravelry, you get the instructions for baby, toddler-small child, youth and teen to adult.

  

This pattern can also be easily modified to adjust the hood, overall length and fringe.

 

This fall I will also be teaching a class on how to make this garment at DWW.

I will share some patterns and a few quick workshop projects that I am teaching this summer in my next post.

Knit Big Chain Top by Hinterm Stein

So it turns out that one of the benefits of working at a yarn store is when a customer accidentally leaves a paper printed pattern behind and tells us just to throw it away, I then have the opportunity of rescuing it from the garbage.  This is quite an opportunity here in VA where recycling is a joke and all of our trash at work is just thrown in the dumpster regardless of whether or not it's actually recyclable.  Don't even get me started on composting.  They don't do where I work or where I live.  I do it myself in my backyard when it's warm enough but I do miss the giant bins we had collected on a weekly basis from the city back in SF.

 

I love this pattern because at face value it's not something I would intentionally knit but after glancing at the chart of the "big chain" portion of the pattern I was so intrigued by it, that I decided to try it.

Because it's sleeveless, it took less than a week to knit.  I used US size 5 and 6 needles.

I actually finished 1/3 of the top just while Xena was taking a long bubble bath.

 

It was my first time adding and modifying the placement of bust darts to best fit my figure and I love the results!
 

 

I also tweaked the body a little by adding a few extra increased and then decreases after the darts and then working straight and finishing the hem in twisted rib.

 

I used some Heavenly Stitches Handspun yarn from Patsy Barr that was gifted to me from my coworker, Keyser.  It's sport weight although the pattern calls for smooth, DK weight yarn.  I used 600-ish yds of yarn to complete the top.

 

I was willing to break the rules because I just wanted to knit a pastel colored sweater for Easter!

Ritual Dyes x TL Yarn Crafts Crochet Timber Duo Earwarmer and Cowl

 In preparation for our upcoming Ritual Dyes trunk show at DWW, I crocheted the Ritual Dyes x TL Yarn Crafts Timber Duo Earwarmer and Cowl Set from the Ritual Dyes 2023 Winter Solstice offering. 

 I am going to be teaching a 3 hour long workshop at DWW to learn how to crochet this set this month.  You can register for the class HERE.

 

The pattern uses less than 2 full skeins of MARONA, a DK weight 3-ply 100% Cormo wool (250 yds / 100 g). Timber is an exclusive color for this kit!

This pattern uses the basketweave stitch which is extremely textured and elastic.

This is a great stitch to use on blankets and garments.  You alternate between working the front and back posts of each stitch.

As you can see, we sure had fun taking photos of my finished work.

 

I can't wait to make more of these earwarmers as gifts for friends.

This is an intermediate beginner pattern.

During class we will should have enough time to complete the earwarmer from start to finish.  Then I will give the students the advice to start and finish the cowl on their own.

 

Both pieces require a bit of seaming with a tapestry needle and/or crochet hook.  It isn't hard and these are great skills to learn.

 

I hope to see some new students in my upcoming workshop soon!

A last minute crochet commission = FREE Granny Square Blanket Pattern and a Knit Pair of Tin Can Knits Rye Light Socks

A few weeks ago one of my best friends from NYC, Todd from Ridgewood, Queens, asked me if I would crochet a blanket to be auctioned off to raise money for Gottscheer Hall.  My friends frequently DJ and chill there.  I rarely have the time or energy for commissions these days but I am willing to make exceptions for very special people and places.

I used a combination of Berroco Vintage Worsted and Biscotte DK SWM with a size G hook.

I'm actually teaching a granny square crochet class tonight and granny squares have been on my mind a lot lately.

When a granny square is large, with high contrasting colors and crocheted well, it has a very striking effect.

In between finishing the JRYC crochet shop sample (to be revealed during the crawl next month) and various other time sensitive shop samples for my upcoming classes, I frantically banged this blanket out.

I am NOT a UNC fan but if I was, I would totally crochet a blanket like this for myself.

 

I used to sell a variety of granny square themed items on Etsy but it's been a while since I've made or sold anything new.  If I ever get the time and/or energy, I'd love to do a handmade granny square pop up someday.  Someday...

I just finished typing up the pattern to teach in my class and I thought I'd share it here.  There are a million (free) granny square patterns online and most of them are very easy to follow.  This is the condensed version of my pattern using 6 different colors of Berroco Vintage DK yarn.

Pattern and yarn Requirements:

• Size E or G crochet hook
• 6 different color skeins of Berroco Vintage DK yarn [52% Acrylic/ 40% Wool/ 8% Nylon, 288 yds (263m)/100g (3.5 oz)/skein] or a total of approximately 1,728 yds of DK weight yarn
• ring marker(s)
• scissors

Kimberlee’s sample used the following 6 skeins of Berroco Vintage DK:

Color A 2110 Fondant                                       Color A _________________________________

Color B 2192 Chana Dal                                    Color B _________________________________

Color C 2179 Chocolate                                    Color C _________________________________

Color D 2176 Pumpkin                                      Color D _________________________________

Color E 21197 Bright Blue                                 Color E _________________________________

Color F 2102 Buttercream                                  Color F _________________________________

Pattern:

Round 1: With color A, make a slip knot, ch 4 and ss into the first ch (next to the slip knot) to form a ring or make a magic ring. Ch 3 (counts as first double crochet), 11 dc around (magic) ring, close ring by joining with a ss in the top of the starting ch-3.  Break yarn leaving an 8” tail.  Weave in ends.

Round 2: Join color B, 5 ch, 3 dc into same space, *1 ch, skip 3 dc, (3 dc, 2 ch, 3 dc) into next sp, * rep from * to * twice more, 1 ch, skip 3 dc, 2 dc into same sp as 5 ch at beg of round.  Ss into next chain sp. Break yarn leaving an 8” tail.  Weave in ends.

NOTE: Every time you (3 dc, 2 ch, 3 dc) you are in the corner of your granny square.  The cluster of these 8 stitches creates the 4 square edges/corners of your blanket.

Round 3:Join color C, 5 ch, 3 dc into same space, *1 ch, skip 3 dc, 3 dc into next sp, 1 ch, skip 3 dc, **(3 dc, 2ch, 3dc) into next spc, * rep from * to * twice more, then from * to ** once more, 2 dc into same sp as 5 ch, ss into 3^rd st  of 5 ch.  Ss into next ch sp.  Break yarn leaving an 8” tail.  Weave in ends.

Round 4: Join color D, 5 ch, 3 dc into same space, *(1 ch, skip 3 dc, 3 dc into next sp) twice, 1 ch, skip 3 dc, ** (3 dc, 2 ch, 3 dc) into next sp, * rep from * to * twice more, then from * to ** once more, 2 dc into same sp as 5 ch, ss into 3^rd st of 5 ch.  Ss into next ch sp.  Break yarn leaving an 8” tail.  Weave in ends.

Round 5: Join color E, 5 ch, 3 dc into same space,*(1 ch, skip 3 dc, 3 dc into next sp) 3 times, 1 ch, skip 3 dc, **(3dc, 2ch, 3 dc) into next sp, * rep from * to * twice more, then from * to ** once more, 2 dc into same sp as 5 ch, ss into 3^rd st of 5 ch.  Ss into next ch sp.  Break yarn leaving an 8” tail.  Weave in ends.

Round 6: Join color F, 5 ch, 3 dc into same space,*(1 ch, skip 3 dc, 3 dc into next sp) 4 times, 1 ch, skip 3 dc, **(3 dc, 2 ch, 3 dc) into next sp, * rep from * to * twice more, then from * to ** once more, 2 dc into same sp as 5, ss into 3^rd st of 5 ch.  Ss into next ch sp.  Break yarn leaving an 8” tail.  Weave in ends.

These rows set the square pattern.  Working 1 more repeat in each side edge, continue until you run out of yarn or the blanket measures your desired size.  Leave at least 38gm of yarn for the border if desired.

Joining new yarn: When you need to join a new ball of yarn (of the same color), when there is only 6-8” remaining of your working yarn, tie the new yarn in a double knot to your ball of working yarn.  Continue working until you get to the knot and then hold your working yarn and both tails (of the new and old yarn) together and work over all strands until the tails are “hidden” (or woven in as you go). 

Border round: 5 ch, 4 dc in same sp, *(dc in each of the next 3 dc, dc in the sp).  Repeat between ( and ) until you reach the corner.  **(3 dc, 2 ch, 3 dc) into the corner sp.*  Repeat from * to * twice more, then from * to ** once more.  2 dc into same spa s 5 ch, ss into 3^rd st of 5 ch.  Ss into next ch sp.  Break yarn leaving an 8” tail.  Weave in ends.

Steam or wet block with a wool wash and pin edges into a square if necessary.  Air dry laying flat.

I had a little yarn leftover and I made a bonus pair of socks to contribute to the auction.  

They only took a few hours to make.

I used a combination of Summer Lee sock patterns from her new book to knit a pair of vanilla kid socks.

Believe it or not, because I knit so loose, I knit these with US size 2 needles!

Xena was so pissed that I donated the socks she thought were for her, I'm now knitting her another pair with the remaining Biscotte DK and some Kindred Red Rad Sock scraps. 

I also just finished a pair of socks for myself and I am pretty sure this is the 4th time I've knit these socks.  The pattern is so simple to follow and the reverse stockinette bar matches the sleeve detail of the Flax Sweater.  

 

Even when I was busy live bidding in a philatelic auction I was knitting a pair of socks...

As usual (for myself), I knit these on US size 0 needles.

I used 29 Bridges Go To Sock yarn (75% SWM/25% nylon) in the Carbon colorway.

I really wanted a (dark) grey pair of socks.

I knit the leg longer than I've done on previous pairs.  I knit twisted rib on the cuff.  They fit perfectly and I love them!