Scarf #96 September 29, 2011

This will be my last post until I return from San Diego on October 9th.  I'm leaving tomorrow to visit my daughter and son-in-law (and my grand-dog Bijou).  I'm so excited!!  My mom and sister Kellye are flying from Tennessee to San Diego and we are all arriving around the same time.  It should be a very fun week!

This is Bijou:

Today's scarf is crocheted using Deborah Norville Everyday Soft Worsted, color "Pine Green".  The pattern is the seed stitch, as demonstrated in Teresa Richardson's video on YouTube at this link.  I adapted the pattern to start with a beginning chain of 25, resulting in 12 seed stitches on each row.  The scarf is 7" wide.  The hat is my go-to pattern, Teresa's beanie pattern.  On the hat, I added an additional increase round (with the final increase round of 70 stitches).   I don't know what I would do if it wasn't for Teresa.  :)

One a Day Update (Week 1)

Last week I joined a group on Ravelry called One a Day, where you set a daily goal to tackle a large project.  This is my first weekly update.  Last Tuesday, I had 5 1/2" done on this scarf and, by adding 20 rows a day, it is now 25 1/2 ".  Only 45" to go!  This is my first attempt at knitting, although since I started this scarf I have knitted two hats.  I'm not really happy with the edges (not very consistent) and the scarf has gotten a little wider at the top because I'm becoming a bit more comfortable and no longer have a death grip on the needles. :)  I will post another update next Tuesday.

Scarf #95 September 27, 2011

The pattern for this scarf is called the "Cupcake Scarf", which can be found at this link.  I didn't do the cupcake part. :)  The scarf ended up being 7" wide and 65" long.  The yarn I used is Lion Brand Wool Ease worsted, color Navy.

For the hat, I used Teresa's Beanie pattern (with a final increase row of 70 stitches) and worked sc in the round for 8 rounds.  Then I switched to the pattern as done in the scarf, using a join and turning rather than continuing in the round.  I think I now found a way to customize the hats to match the scarf pattern wherever possible.

Scarf #94 September 26, 2011

The yarn I used for this scarf and hat is Lion Brand Wool Ease worsted, color "Mushroom".  The scarf is a simple pattern:

Beginning chain 25
Rows 1-11:  Sc in each st across; ch1, turn
Row 12:  Sc in each st across; ch 2, turn
Rows 13-???(desired length):  Hdc in each st across; ch 2, turn
At the end of the last hdc row at desired length, ch 1 and turn
Work 12 more rows of sc in each st across.

The hat is the hat pattern Crocheted Snowflake Cloche (without the snowflake).

Drumroll Please....My First Knitted Piece!

I'm very pleased to announce that I have (for the first time) finished a knitted item!  It is a hat knitted with just knit stitches in the round.  I started with a 72 cast-on (which I now know makes too small of a hat for an adult with the Red Heart yarn I used), so the hat would be appropriate for a young teen, perhaps.  Anyway, I'm proud of it, flaws and all!  I look forward to making more.

Scarf #93 September 16, 2011

Here is another men's set that I crocheted using Lion Brand Wool Ease (worsted weight), color "Mink Brown".
I had to use slightly more than one ball to get the hat to a length of 11 1/2".  I again used Teresa's beanie pattern (link to pattern) with a final increase row of 77 stitches.  The scarf was done in half-double crochet in back loops only, worked lengthwise with a beginning chain of 275.  The scarf ended up being 75" long, so next time I think I will try a beginning chain of 260 so that it will be closer to 72".  The width is 7 1/2" by working 20 rows of hdc.

Scarf #92 September 15, 2011

This is a hat and scarf set (men's size) that I crocheted using Bernat Denim Style, color "Indigo", which is an acrylic/cotton blend.  For the hat, I used Teresa's beanie pattern and used the entire 3.5 oz ball.  The hat ended up the perfect length of 11 1/2" using one ball and with a final increase row of 70 stitches.  The scarf is done with hdc in back loops only and a beginning chain of 28.  The scarf ended up around 7 1/2" wide and 72" long.  I needed 7.75 oz. of yarn for the scarf.  The set came out really nice, but I didn't really like working with this yarn because I had trouble seeing the stitches as I was working along.  These old eyes aren't what they used to be.  :)

Chunky Men's Beanie

Here is a hat I crocheted using Lion Brand Wool Ease Chunky, color "Charcoal".  I used my usual Teresa's Beanie pattern (which is an actual baby beanie pattern and can be found at this link) with the last increase row consisting of 70 stitches.  I used the entire 5 oz. skein and the length from the top is 10 1/2 inches.  It is very warm and somewhat tightly stitched because I used a size I crochet hook.

Still Here September 9, 2011

No, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth!  I had to take a little time off to take care of some very needed house cleaning and organizing.  Right now I'm doing some experimentation with hats and how much yarn is needed for each size and yarn weight used.  My focus for the next month or so will be men's hats to send to Sandy at Bridge and Beyond (click here to see their wonderful work).  I will be posting pictures of my experimental hats in the days to come.

It is going to be hot again today in Battle Ground, WA.  We didn't hit our first 90 degree day until September, so our summer came really late this year.  Our tomatoes are finally looking better!