Wicker Circle Scarf

Between larger sweater projects, I have to make quick things so that I won't be too bored.  I am flighty. I am impatient.  I have issues finishing things.  That's how I roll.  And so, the Wicker Circle Scarf is born.

                                               

Supplies:

16" US NO 10 Circular Needle

2 Skeins Noro Kureyon

Stitch Marker (I just used a scrap piece of yarn in a different color)

I  purchased this yarn without a project in mind.  Noro is beautiful, and if you haven't tried it, I definitely suggest giving it a whirl.  Since the yarn is the star here, I wanted a stitch pattern that would be simple yet interesting. 

Pattern:

Loosely CO 90 sts and join to work in the round (without twisting stitches). 

R1- Knit all stitches

R2- *YO, k2tog.  Repeat from * around. 

Repeat R1 and R2 until scarf is as long as you like. 

Bind off loosely, weave in ends. 

I used the entire 2 skeins of yarn for this scarf, and I think it's just the right size. 

Enjoy!

Window Pane Scarf

Family fun time means yarn time for me.  It's not boredom, but just a productive way to keep my hands moving while enjoying the conversation.  We spent the last few days with family (as I imagine you did too) and it was WAY colder than I expected.  Frigid North Texas demanded a scarf.  I came up with this pattern.  It only required a single skein of yarn and a few hours of your time.

Materials: I-9 Crochet Hook, 150 to 220 yards worsted weight yarn (like Malabrigo or Manos Maxima)

This scarf is worked lengthwise, so although you have to get through a long foundation chain, there are only 5 or 7 rows. 

Chain 203, the last 3 chain stitches count as the turning chain

R1: dc across all chain stitches, 200 dc

R2:  chain 4 (counts as turning chain and chain 1), *1 dc, chain 1, skip  one dc from previous row, 1 dc in next stitch.  Repeat from * across all stitches.

R3-? You can make as many mesh rows as you like here, I made one scarf with 5, another with only 3: begin as R2 to last square, make the final dc in 2nd chain stitch over, leaving 3 chain stitches to act as last dc from previous row.

Last Row: chain 3, dc across all stitches, including the single chain stitches between dc.

Tie off, make fringe.

Here's how I make fringe:
First cut lengths of yarn double the desired finished length of fringe, also allow a bit of trim room.  For example, if you want 6" fringe, cut yarn about 12 1/2" long.
Grab a few strands and a hook and pull the middle point of your yarn through work.  Feed tails through resulting loop.  Repeat and space fringe evenly, then trim.

Lady Mitts

Crochet and I have become rather good friends.  It can be so sculptural and easier for me to design as I go.  This week my obsession has landed on fingerless gloves.  Austin does get chilly enough for some little woolen accessories, and these little mitts fit the bill.  They work up quite quickly too.

Here's how to make them:

 *I am apologizing for my return to crummy phone pics.  I can't find my friggin' camera charger.  

Materials:  G hook, worsted weight yarn.  I used Full o Sheep by Debbie Stoller.  This yarn is awesomely cheap and good quality.

Pattern:

Cuff

The cuff is worked back and forth and then seamed together at the edges.  Creates a neat ribbed illusion.

So, chain 10, then work 9 sc across.  Next row and all others, sc in the back loops only for all stitches.  Repeat until you have 15 ridges (or about 6").

Seam together edges by slip stitching edge stitches together.  Regular seaming would work well too, but I have doing that, so I cheated. 

Body

The first step is to make a round of sc along the top edge of cuff.  Do this by chaining 1, and make 28 sc along top edge.  Try to keep stitches even. 

Shell Pattern

Round 1- Chain 3 (counts as your turning chain), dc in same sc, chain 1, then 2 dc in same sc.  *Skip 3 sc stitches, (2dc, ch1, 2dc) in next sc.  Repeat from *around.  Join round with a slip stitch at top of beginning chain 3. 

Round 2- Slip stitch over to first ch1 space.  (ch3, dc, ch1, 2dc) all in ch1 space.  *Skip to next ch1 space and (2dc, 1ch, 2dc) all in same ch1 space.  Repeat from * around.  Again join round with a slip stitch at top of beginning chain 2. 

I repeated round 2 for three more times.  If you prefer a longer mitt, add more shell pattern rounds. 

Thumb Hole Round

Start round the same way and complete one shell stitch, then chain 8, skip a shell cluster, and dc in next ch1 space to start the next shell. Finish round as previously established. 

On the next round, continue in pattern until you reach the chain 8.  Skip 3 chain stitches, and make a shell in the next chain (2dc, ch1, 2dc).  Continue around. 

Do 2 more rounds of shell pattern. 

Picot Edge

Picots are made by chaining a few stitches and then joining them at the base with a slip stitch. 

*Slip stitch into next stitch, chain 3, the slip stitch into first chain to make picot, sc in next stitch. Repeat from *around. 

Finish by joining round with a slip stitch and tie off.  Weave in ends. 

One Inch Punch Neckwarmer

I keep harping that the weather has finally turned to fall in Austin, when, really, it is just no longer unbearably hot. Because of the new air, I really have been on a pattern making whim.. fast and easy knits that take a good movie to whip out.

And so, the One Inch Punch neckwarmer was born.

Just as a nerdy side note, each square measures 1".. hence the name.

Materials:

US no 11 straight knitting needles

Malibrigo worsted weight yarn

2 Buttons

Darning needle to weave in ends and button sewing thread/needle

Gage: 4sts/4rows= 1".. if your gage differs, and you want to keep your squares an inch, definitely do a swatch and measure.

Pattern:

CO 30 sts

Knit 2 rows

Stripe A:

R1: k5, *p4, k4 repeat from * to last st, k1

R2: k1, *p4,k4 repeat from *to last st, k1.

Repeat R1 and R2 once more

Stripe B:

R1: k1, *p4, k4 repeat from * to last st, k1

R2: k5, *p4,k4 repeat from * to last st, k1

Repeat R1 and R2 once more

Continue alternating stripe A and B for 23" (or 23 squares)

Button holes:

Continuing in pattern as set, work 8 sts, then yo, k2tog, work to last 9 sts, yo, k2tog, work to end.

Return to pattern, and continue for another 4 rows.

K 2 rows for edge.

BO all stitches.

Sew on buttons, done!

I really love this checkerboard weave stitch pattern. If you have any questions about my goofy pattern writing, please let me know.. I'll answer what I can!

Just Enough Frills for an Ascot

For my crochet class tonight, I wanted to create a project that is simple, pretty, and only involves the most basic of crochet stitches. Simplicity at it's best.

Materials:

Worsted Weight Yarn (I used 1 skein of Debbie Stoller's Bamboo Ewe)

9.0 mm Crochet Hook

Darning Needle for weaving in ends

Pattern:

For scarf body,

Chain 18 stitches

Next, Double Crochet into the 2nd chain stitch from the end and then in every chain across. You should have 15 double crochets.

Make a turning chain of 2 stitches, turn work, and double crochet across row in each stitch, maintaining 15 double crochets on each row.

Continue this way until piece measures 28".

For the opening, start the next row as usual and complete 2 double crochets. Then make 12 chain stitches, and then double crochet into the last 2 stitches of the row.
*Update: It seems the opening is better if smaller, as it stretches out a bit.  Instead of 2 dc at each end, make 4, with a ch 8 in the center. 

Make a turning chain and then double crochet all stitches across row, 15 double crochet.

Continue until piece measures 6"-8" from opening and tie off.

Optional Ruffle Edge:

Single Crochet around entire edge of scarf. To turn corners, do 2 single crochet stitches in the same stitch.

Next row, make 3 double crochet stitches into one single crochet stitch, chain 3, skip a single crochet, and then make 3 double crochets in the next single crochet. So, 3 double crochet, 3 chain, skip, and repeat.

In each corner, make 4 double crochets instead of 3.

Tie off at end of round.

That's it!

To wear it, just wrap it around your neck and insert one end into the opening and fluff.

The combo of a large hook and airy crochet stitches makes this scarf look more complicated then it really is.

Enjoy!