open diamond cowl

the final scarf in my scarf-a-lot triumvirate is a pattern i wrote. like i mentioned yesterday, i pick the yarn based on the person i’m doing the project for. and this scarf was for my mom—a bulky weight mustard yellow is perfect.

the problem was i had no pattern in mind, and a frustrating and fruitless search of ravelry, plus five or six different patterns started and then frogged led me to start thinking this wasn’t going to work. i like the look of bulky yarn, but i didn’t want something overly bulky if that even makes any sense.

so i finally scrapped all the pattern hunting, thought about what I wanted this to look like, and began crocheting.

i’m pretty stoked by the result. (yeah, i said stoked. so what)

it’s crocheted lengthwise, done in all half-double crochet, with some skipped stitches forming a subtle open diamond pattern to give it some interest.

at the very end i had a smidgen of yarn left, and squeezed out the little button tab closure as an added element for one side.

now here’s where i would share the pattern i wrote, because i was smart and efficient and took notes while i crocheted.

HA!

okay, so here’s where i would share the pattern i wrote, because i took pictures and worked up a sample and wrote it down later.

DOUBLE HA HA!

yeah…i tried to do that, but i realized there was a big error in my pattern. which may explain why i kept wrestling with last rows trying to keep my diamond pattern lined up. i’m not giving up…i’d like to make myself one of these. and when i get the pattern nailed down i’ll be back to share. 

in the meantime, i feel so bad…

oh hey! bonus! it’s awkward me, modeling the cowl before handing it off to my momma…

the crocus scarf

see, i told you these were relevant to spring.

as i was reminded yesterday by a kind commenter, i live in one area of the world that is approaching springtime. but there are large swathes of land where scarf-wearing is still de rigueur—nay, even necessary. you know—like the entire southern hemisphere, for instance.

ugh. how #firstworldproblems of me. i didn’t get my scarf tutorials on my blog fast enough, and now the area I’M in it’s spring! oh noooos!!! i feel so….northeast US-centric.

:/

anyway, moving on…this is another scarf pattern crocheted up for my mother-in-law.

pattern found on ravelry HERE, direct from the knitting daily website HERE, done in my favorite wallet-friendly caron simply soft yarn.

as usual, i changed it a bit—doing three repeats of the pattern vs. two (how it’s written). i also eliminated the edging, and opted for a simple single crochet border squaring off the three edges and following the bumps of the top edge.

it’s another scarf i was in love with, threatening to keep it. threatening who i’m not sure. myself, maybe? but it’s funny…i choose the pattern and the yarn with the person in mind. the entire time i’m working on it i’m thinking about that person. by the time i’ve finished—no matter how much i love the item—in my head it’s theirs. it belongs to them. and so it was with this scarf. i love it—the pattern, the color…but i could no more keep it for myself than i could walk into my mother-in-law’s closet and claim one of her shirts as my own. (her son, on the other hand…him i took. and i’m not giving back. so i’m not entirely sure my analogy works on all levels.)

is this normal with you other sewers/knitters/crocheters/quilters? i’ve only recently become secure enough to start giving the things i’ve made as gifts…so i’m wondering if this is kind of how everyone feels when they make a specific project for a specific someone. like—i love it, but it’s not mine to keep. let’s talk.

drops design scarf

okay can we just set aside for the moment that it’s april? i mean, if the weather doesn’t follow the calendar, why should my project sharing?

let’s pretend for a moment that it’s still the winter, maybe late january, and you’re still interested in crochet projects. because i have three scarves to share with you this week. and even if your sewing thoughts have turned to spring dresses and short sets, maybe you can just bookmark this for next fall, when you’re ready to cuddle up with a skein and a cuppa. k? k.

first up: this peacock blue scarf, based on a drops design pattern.

this scarf was a gift, so i had guinevere model it for some shots before handing it off. what i didn’t realize when i took the shots was that the settings on my camera were wonky, and so a lot of the photos came out blurry. and now the scarf is gone…so you must see blurry pictures.

pattern found on my ravelry HERE, and direct from the website HERE
yarn: caron simply soft in color ‘peacock’

the original pattern calls for the flower/grape cluster things to run the entire length of one side of the scarf, making it more like a wrap or shawl in my opinion. so i did three repeats of the pattern then turned it sideways and worked the lattice design for about 34”. then i made a separate section of three repeats of the cluster design and attached it on the other end.

it’s not perfect, you can see the seam where i joined the two sections if you look. but i couldn’t figure out a way to do it continuously without overtaxing my limited brain power (and crocheting knowledge). and honestly when you’re wearing the scarf it’s not noticeable at all.

i liked the idea of the design hanging down on the front. it also makes the scarf a little more lightweight than your average crochet/knit scarf. maybe this is a spring project after all?

the last thing i did was block the edges of the scarf. the cluster design gets pretty clumped up as you work it, so i wet it and pinned it flat to my ironing board and let it dry for a day. the caron yarn is acrylic, so it doesn’t take long to dry.

my instagram photo of this step was much more dramatic:

my biggest victory in this scarf? this is what the pattern looks like:

that’s right—it’s an actual crochet PATTERN. and it turns out, they’re really not that hard to read. it was my first time using one like this and i was pretty proud of myself for figuring it out. #supercrocheter

the crochet monster

it’s happening, and i didn’t even see it coming.

i mean, my love of handmade items is obvious. and my burgeoning love of crochet has been developing steadily over the last year or so.

but i’m pretty sure there’s an unwritten rule saying the grandmom-types are supposed to be the ones bringing the knit blankets and quilts and crochet items to baby showers. not the 30-somethings. right? 

we’ll call it the passing of the torch—albeit maybe a bit early. because the thing is, i can’t seem to stop myself. not when there’s things like this to be made:

yes, i could have simply run to the store and gotten a gift card (which i actually did do, to give along with the dress & hat). and that probably would have been the wiser, more practical avenue, seeing as i do have some other responsibilities in my day-to-day life.

but…why? i mean, you’ve seen this, right?

it’s so tiny and so delicate. i should have put something in the photos to give you an idea of size. it’s definitely for a newborn, and only a newborn.

just one skein of caron simply soft in a muted mossy green color (lighter than what it looks in these photos) bought on a whim because it was on clearance at walmart for about $2.50 (and which i threw away the wrapper for and so NO you can’t have the actual color name). and even after doing the dress and hat i still have a significant amount of yarn left.

the dress has three little buttons in the back, and i think it would look adorable with a long sleeve onesie and tights underneath.

the dress pattern is the angel wings pinafore from bev’s country cottage.

i eliminated the last row of edging and did three buttons in the back. but it was quick and easy and—as we’ve already established-ridiculously adorable.

the hat is the shell stitch beanie from the dainty daisy. also a quick project, and the shell stitch is the same stitch used in the dress.

i was going to add a flower to the hat, but i’ve had this butterfly pinned forever and decided this was the perfect place for it.. butterfly pattern from marie’s making. all the patterns are free, and i found them on ravelry.

this was a quick series of events: the shower was planned within a week. i made the dress and hat up on saturday, the shower was sunday, and surprise! baby arrived monday. i have yet to meet her, but i know what she better be wearing when i do ;) you don’t want to make this monster angry.

branches

i was so determined that she would wear this dress on sunday—despite not being finished.

jeremy, can you make the little girls some eggs or something? my fingers were flying along that last sleeve. the sleeves had given me trouble saturday night—frogged twice before i set it aside at midnight in favor of sleep.

the pattern only went up to size 12 months. my chubby 17 month old was pushing it. but the stretch of the yarn + an additional couple of rows made it do-able.

do-able now—not 2 months from now, and with the way this kid grows maybe not even 2 weeks from now. so this sunday it was.

and NO. you absolutely may NOT take away her book and try for a nice full body shot. you will suffer the wrath of Child Approaching Terrible Twos.

pattern found {here}, yarn is caron simply soft in what i believe is called antique white, and black. i added 4 rows of black to the bodice and left off the last row of scallops on the hem because i couldn’t figure it out. i also changed the sleeves to make simple flutter sleeves.

i’m pretty sure my favorite part is the back button placket. i’m pretty dang proud of how that turned out, considering i’ve basically been crocheting for about a year.

the openwork of the skirt is nothing a black diaper cover and tights can’t compensate for.

diaper cover basic pattern from {here}. i eliminated the leg cuffs and did two rows of the v-stitch on the dress pattern around the leg openings.

what i also should have done was made the elastic in the waist a little smaller—okay for sitting pretty, not so much for running.

(guinevere’s fall colored bias strip dress blogged {here})

i feel like a Real Crocheter now. i’ve branched out—tackled more than a basic scarf or hat. crochet makes sense to my brain in a way knitting doesn’t, and i find i can move faster and easier—the repetitive motions are relaxing.

i’m still working on my blanket, and i said to jeremy last night that when i look over the length of what i’ve done i’m amazed to think that my hands have done every single one of those tiny stitches. i’ve literally touched every single thread of that blanket.

hopefully i’ve filled it with love. because that’s definitely what i feel as i’m working on it. ;)

crochet instructions from someone who actually knows what they're doing.

i first "met" andrea from all things bright and beautiful when her cupcake beanie was featured over at u-create. it was so cute i had to check out what other adorableness she had.

and i wasn't disappointed!

the girl can crochet. like for reals. this blanket?

bobble blanket via all things bright and beautiful

the colors of this blanket just draw me in....i can't explain why i love it so much, i just do. in a way that makes me want to run out and buy all these exact yarn colors RIGHT NOW and start crocheting.

lego blanket

this lego blanket? genius. 100% pure awesome that just about any boy--big or little--would love. some day i'm going to use her tutorial to make one.

and the girl can make beanies like nobody's bidness...

owl beanie

 how cute is this owl beanie? almost makes me wish it wasn't quite spring so we had more beanie weather...(almost)

now andrea is expecting another new addition to her family--a baby boy. so when i sent her a last minute email asking if she'd be willing to do a guest post for yarn it all i really thought she'd be like me--a quivering blob of hormones unwilling to move from the bed let alone write up a guest post. but hey--she's not like me! so she did!

let me turn it over to andrea...

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Hi! I’m Andrea from All Things Bright and Beautiful, and I love to crochet. I first learned to crochet when I was a little girl, but only recently has it become a passion of mine. I love coming up with new patterns, whether it’s blankets, scarves, beanies, or other items. I’m pregnant with our second, so my crocheting is geared towards babies these days.

Today I’d like to share the pattern for a simple baby boy football beanie with you. It’s quick, it’s easy, and it’s the perfect little gift for a baby shower.

Newborn Football Beanie Pattern

Hook: I (5.5mm)

Yarn: (Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice)

Yarn Needle

Start by making a magic ring with 6 stitches.

Row 1: sc 2 in each st around (12).

Row 2: sc in first st, sc 2 in next st, repeat around (18).

Row 3: sc in next 2 sts, sc 2 in next st, repeat around (24).

Row 4: sc in next 3 sts, sc 2 in next st, repeat around (30).

Row 5: sc in next 4 sts, sc 2 in next st, repeat around (36).

Row 6: sc in next 5 sts, sc 2 in next st, repeat around (42). 

Rows 7-8: sc around with white yarn.

Rows 9-15: sc around with brown yarn.

Rows 16-17: sc around with white yarn.

Row18: sc around with brown yarn.

Note: It is really easy to make this pattern bigger, just continue the pattern of increase after row 6 until the beanie is the right circumference size, then just sc around until it is the right height size.

Ear Flaps:

With Brown yarn.

Row 1: sc 8 sts on one side of beanie

Row 2: ch. 1, turn sc in each st across (8).

Row 3: sc2tog, sc in next 4 sts, sc2tog (6).

Row 4: sc in each st across (6).

Row 5: sc2tog, sc in next 4 sts, sc2tog (4). 

Row 6: sc in each st across (4).

Row 7: sc2tog, sc2tog (2.)

Row 8: sc in each st across (2).

Row 9: sc2tog (1).

Row 10: sc in st (1).

Note: Make the other ear flap on the other side of the beanie.

Brown stitching around: sc evenly around the beanie with brown.

With the yarn needle, thread the white yarn and sew it in the front of the beanie to make the football stitches.

Weave in all the ends and you’re finished! Your little one will be well on his way to the pros with this cute little football beanie!

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okay, so who's running out to the store for brown yarn right now?? ;)

andrea, thanks so much for posting here today and sharing on yarn it all!

check out andrea at her blog, ALL THINGS BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL,

or you can follow her on PINTEREST

and check out her ETSY SHOP!

and don't forget to head over to bugaboo and see what yarniness kim's up to today!