My Nephew's Crochet Blanket

This blanket was so much fun to make!  I made the pattern up all on my own, by doing some single crochet, some double and triple crochet.  I started with just four colors, and just kept it with those 4, to keep it natural and simple.  The big blocks of stitches are all single crochet.  They are all added together with 50 stitches in row.

Then, in the middle I did do something fun and very open, and used a shell hook pattern.  This is a really easy stitch which you use a second crochet stitch, and just keep going to the same spot to start say 5 stitches.  It makes a pretty fan!

Here's a close up of this stitch.  It is upside down from where you would start, but it is pretty isn't it?  The entire point is you can create your own blanket with some innovation and some new ideas.  The mix of patterns is very nice, and adds a lot of texture to this blanket!

Creating New Crochet Projects

It is not too hard to change up your single crochet (sc) foundation into a double crochet (dc), slip stitich (sl st), half double crochet (hdc) and treble crochet (tr).  You already have the great start of a single crochet, and you can simply replicate this into any of the stitches above.

They make your crochet more interesting, and you can bring into your crochet project more texture, variety, and it also makes the project "grow" at a fairly rapid pace.  In this way, if you add in a single crochet for say 25 rows,  and then add in double crochet for 5, and then continue with shaping your piece for the back of a sweater, you are adding some great visible texture with the yarn.

Do take any crochet pattern, and try adding a simple line of any of the above basic 5 stitches. It is important for you to keep your project interesting, not just for the final product, but for your creative and crafty soul to enjoy.  The more you allow yourself to be creative, the more  you are going to enjoy it.

How is your Knitting Project Coming Along?

If you are having some trouble keeping up with your knitting, do not feel bad!  The project you are working on, may just be one for the unravel pile.  You may have discovered that the project you were working on, was the wrong size needle, wrong size yarn, or you just hate it already.   That is OK!  It is part of knitting, and sometimes, you pick a project because someone tells you to try it, or you think it will be good for a gift.

Stop knitting that project right now.  Start one that fuels a fire in you.  It is the only way you will be happy with your progression as a knitter.  You need to find a project that makes you happy.  Maybe you need to spring for some really nice wool or silk, so that the feel of your project is a pleasant one.

Maybe you bought all of the acrylic yarn, but it stinks working with it.  Take it back to the store if you can.  I am a big believer in buying the best yarn you can afford.  Why spend another moment knitting if you are hating the yarn.  You have to love the yarn.  Not hate it.

And, sometimes you are happiest with scarf creation, mittens or gloves.  Maybe hats are your thing!  Try one.  See if you like it!  I found I am a big knitter, sweaters and blankets are my thing.  I hate working on the little stuff. Do not ask me why, but maybe it is because I love how the final product drapes all over your body.  I love it!

I have worked with wool, and for me it is my favorite natural fiber.  It also works well to shed off animal fur, and if you know me, I have lots and lots of fur babies, so that is important.

So, if you are stalling, do not sweat it.  Start again.  Unravel that nightmare, and buy some materials that float your boat so to say.  I want you to keep knitting.  I want you to try crochet.  Keep at it!  Enjoy it.  Find out what you love to create, and you will be rich in mind and in final projects.  Knitting is a beautiful and kind mistress, she will keep you sane in these crazy days.  Enjoy it!

Crochet that Second Row!

Now that you have your chain, are you ready to make some magic happen?  I love crochet, it is so free and easy, and such a good stitch to you knitters out there!  I am sorry to say though, if you made your chain all stiff and tight, you need to start over, and do a loose chain.  Can I say it again, loose.  If you do not have it nice and loose, you are going to throw the entire thing in the trash with gusto.  Crochet is fun, but if you are all prim and proper, you are going to have more of an issue, so relax and enjoy!

Here is your chain once again:

I like to crochet from the butt part of the chain as you see above. Flip your chain around, back and forth, looking at the middle of the loops.  See those little funny bumpy things in the middle of the back of your chain?  They are your butts.  We like butts, they are easy to slice around with your metal hook.  You can see in the picture above, I have sliced into the loop with my hook, and the butt is in the front of the hook. You are going to hook into the chain and crochet a single crochet stitch.  Ready?  Here we go!

Step 1:  You have your hook on the last chain you made.  Move it under your chain, and Put your hook into the chain, into the first butt, and then move your yarn over the hook, and pull it through the loops.  Check it out:

You are going to pull this through the butt, and the slip knot too.  Then you have another loop to work with.  Move on over sister, cause you are going to move over into the next butt in on the next loop and find yourself with another loop.  Keep going!

It might look a little knotty, and you may have to start over, but keep your wits about you, this is the hardest part of crochet.  Once you get past the loose chain, and the witchy second row, you are going to be an expert crochet hooker!  It is really not too hard, just stay loose, and do not tighten like you would in a knit.










Step 2:  Keep on pulling the yarn through.  Remember, you are going to pull the yarn through the butt, and the loop you made previously.  Now you have 20 to do, so keep going and look at how lovely it is!

You just made your first chain and second row!  You can tie it off, and use it for a key chain holder, or keep going, and make a square start.  This is the basic single crochet stitch, and it really is a beautiful thing!

Crochet 101: Make a chain!

Here are some great fun ways to evolve your knitting, if you have yet to try crochet, you should give it a try!  First, just like knitting, you are going to have to start from somewhere.  So here is your first step: make a chain!

Step 1:  Get your tools together.  Yarn, and your scissors and a crochet hook:  A good one to start with is a USK10.5/6.50MM size hook.  You can do anything bigger, but stay away from smaller at the start.  You are going to just make a chain. 

Step 2:  Make a slip knot.  Just like in knitting, take your yarn, and wrap it around two fingers, and then pull it through the wrap, and pull up until it looks like this:

Its a nice loose slip knot!

Step 3:  Put that slip knot on your hook, just like you do on a needle:

Step 4:  Happy Days!  You are Now going to Hook a Chain!  Take the yarn end that holds your ball of yarn, and place your yarn over the hook base, and then pull it through the slip knot, and keep it loose. Check out these two steps!

Check out how loose this is.  Keep it loose! If you tighten this at all you are going to curse at yourself later on.  You will use these loose loops to create your first row in crochet called the chain.  This first row is like super straight, and you should continue it until you have 20 loops.  Do not count the slip knot, just 20 overs and pull throughs until you get this beautiful thing:

Do not worry if it has a few twists and turns, you are just going to improve with time!  Yippee, You have just completed your first row, your chain, in crochet.  Put it down and dance around the room, as it is a thing of beauty!

My sister's wedding quilt

Can you believe I knitted this beautiful blanket?  It was a huge hit, and she is truly in love with it.  I made it with 10 different yarn colors, which you could easily mix up, to make it more pastel, more earthy, more pink, more green etc.  I want to make another, just like it, and will very soon, with different colors.

The needle I used is a US9, and it was made in 3 panels, with each panel in St st.   I finished it with a crochet hook Susan Bates USK10.5/6.50MM.  I did sew each panel together, while cleaning up the color changes and ends. 

I find it incredibly annoying that there isn't much action paid to in pattern instructions on things like sewing together or finishing, so it really was a couple of trials and errors on how to join the three panels together, but, once I got them joined, it was a real relief.  I did block the entire blanket then, before I finished the edge with a single crochet.

I can not give you any more pattern details, because I did not create this beautiful design.  I would like to recommend the beautiful book that I used, and the book is entitled, "the yarn girls guide to simple knits", by Julie Carles and Jordana Jacobs.

I think a blanket like this, is a real event project, and you can learn a lot about knitting and crochet by doing one of these huge projects.  You will be sick of it by the third panel, but if you are more patient than I am, you are going to want it to continue.  Why not do 4 panels then?

You will learn about joining colors, finishing, wool and knitting needle gauge experiences, blocking, and even some crochet!

Some notes about yarn: use natural fibers.  They are the reason your hard work will be a success in the end.  You will need a lot of yarn to do a blanket, but boy are you going to love it! I used Patons Classic Wool, which is a cheaper natural fiber option, yet comes in tons of colors.

Ms Carles and Jacobs book also comes with some great sweaters, which I have tried and love! Have fun, and let me know how it goes.

My Favorite Knitting and Crochet Book!

 I learned to knit with the knitter's handbook.  I have been knitting for over 2 years, and have made many scarves, sweaters, and this year I have so far completed two large blankets.  One for my sister, and the other for my nephew-both wedding gifts.  I will share with you some stories on my crochet soon!

Debbie is so fun to learn from, and if you are looking for an escape from the day-to-day, you have found it!  Nothing feels better than feeling some soft wool, cotton, or silk flowing through your needles or hooks. 

Go get em!