Spring Stitches

This winter warranted plenty of sweaters and scarves and hats. If you like bundling up, this was a dream season.  I like making hats and scarves, probably have enough for a new combo every wintery day. But, now I'm ready for spring-ier, warmer weather. I was excited to see the spring issue of Interweave Crochet in the mailbox as some sure harbinger of the passing of winter. If I crochet with lighter yarn, the appropriate weather will follow. Something like that.

I've kinda become a scarf addict, from both a crafter and fashion viewpoint.  Scarves now seem popular and acceptable all year round, at different weights, no longer thick and heavy,  stuck only in the cold weather pile.  Folks are wearing scarves all year long in bright colors, lighter yarns and fabrics, flowy styles. It's the perfect crocheter and knitter go-to project.  Especially for someone like me who usually carries a project in my purse or tote bag, whether going to sit in the bleachers at a kid's sports activity or take a seat in a meeting room.

I found this pattern for the "Ennis Shawl" last year (in the Summer 2013 Interweave.)  With tall Tunisian stitches and chain stitches, I liked this pattern because it was (1) easy to do; (2) easy to memorize; (3) do-able with yarn in my stash.  I've had a few skeins of Twinkle Handknits "Cruise" in off-white and a light green and been playing around with it for the perfect piece.  The silk/cotton blend is soft, cool, and light - perfect for a nice spring scarf.  The pattern is designed for a full shawl, but can be scaled down to a scarf; this took only 2 skeins.

 

For my next project, I've pulled out a few mohair blend options. I'm feeling drawn to something fluffy, maybe because it's still a bit chilly. I like this shawl, combining a mohair and a straight yarn for a unique look.  If I get something worked up soon, I'll have time to wear them before it gets really warm. 

Note: I've not been compensated by Interweave Crochet for this post or using their pattern, but I do like their magazine!

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WIP: Swirly Scarves in Crochet & Knit

I’ve been liking these swirly scarves that are around.  I bought skeins of the ruffly yarn to make a few as gifts and for myself. 

The patterns I found and that were on the skein labels were knitted.  To cast on, all you do is weave the needle into how many ever holes you want on each row.  I used 2 for these.  Then it’s a simple knitting stitch, using the lace-holes in the yarn, below the woven edge.

Since I kept finding knitted patterns, I also wanted to figure out a way to do these in crochet, so I worked out a crochet pattern as another option, as if doing Tunisian crochet.

I used a 5mm crochet hook.

• Weave the hook into the first 6 lace holes.  This is your beginning row of “stitches.”
• Loop the hook into the next hole and pull through the last stitch on the hook.
• Loop the hook through the next hole and pull through the next 2 stitches.  Repeat until the end, ending with 1 stitch on the hook.
• Weave the hook into the next 5 lace holes.  Repeat as before, working back through the stitches.
• Continue to the end of the skein.
• At the end, pull the last loop through and knot it.
• Fluff out and enjoy!

These swirly scarves took about an hour to make. They’re quick and easy and fun to wear. I’m making a few more in my daughters’ school colors to wear to their basketball games as the proud momma.

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WIP: Cabled Tunisian Stitches

I started a nice cozy, squishy shawl/scarf/wrap for the winter, went with a Tunisian stitch to try to make it a little bit different. But by row 5 I was already thinking, "this is going to be a lot of the same rows," and wondered what else I could do to add a little something, some design, some stitch feature.  I've seen a few nice knitted wraps that have a lace design along one side and that's what I wanted.  I considered pulling it out and starting over again in regular stitches so I could get something fancy along the edge.

And then, the crochet fairies dropped the latest Interweave Crochet in my mailbox.  And ta-da there's a sweater with cabled Tunisian stitches.  Thus began my first experiment with this little twist on Tunisian crochet.

I've worked cables and twists before, so I understood the stitch construction; now, it was the "how" part, which, actually turned out to be pretty simple using the clear, step-by-step instructions from Kim Guzman.

Tunisian stitches for the forward pass

The return pass - move the stitches for the cable

On the return pass, you take (in this pattern) 6 stitches off the main hook, put the 3 closest to the hook on a second hook (or stitch holder), return the remaining 3 to the main hook, and then replace the other 3 from the second hook.  You'll do this twice, for each side of the cable.  Whether those stitches on the second hook are brought forwards or backwards determines the direction of the cable.  This is the part where you have to pay attention or your cables could end up turning the wrong way.

Return pass after moving the stitch loops

After you've moved the stitch loops, you're back to a regular return pass.  Kim Guzman in Interweave recommends stitching a single chain in the middle of the cabled stitches, i.e. after 3 stitches, to make it raise up more from the fabric.

This was a good find, I like it.  And it makes what would've been a hundred rows of the same ole' stitch a bit more interesting.

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