• Crochet - trial and error

    Trying Houndstooth

    April 4, 2023 - By 

    About a week or so ago I saw the crochet houndstooth pattern on YouTube and thought I’d give it a whirl. Traditionally houndstooth is with black and white but that didn’t stop me. Instead I used a couple of colors from my stash, pumpkin and slate. The houndstooth pattern is simple, one single crochet, one double crochet, alternating to the end or the row or round. Then, alternate the colors and stitches. A double in the single in the row below, a single in the double…

    I like the pattern and the look, so I made a hat and it worked up well. Then for the scarf, I worked it in horizontal rows, for fewer color changes. I tried a couple of things so I wouldn’t have to pull the yarn through.

    The first set worked up well, so I wanted to try again with different yarn in different colors to see if I still liked it. For the second attempt, I worked the scarf vertically in a dark charcoal and black and white marl yarn. Halfway through the scarf, I grew tired of the color changes every other row.

    Love the pattern and the look of it, but dislike changing yarn every row especially with the shorter rows for a vertical scarf. There are longer but fewer rows in a horizontal scarf and I think I’d do it that way next time with a border to hide some of the trailing yarn and woven edges. After changing colors so frequently using the houndstooth stitch for the vertical scarf, I found a way that worked for me to keep the edges neat with minimal ends to weave in at the end.

    While the houndstooth pattern takes a while to change colors for an overall project, this pattern has possibilities for fun, colorful designs especially to use mini skeins or oddballs for hats and accents in scarves. The stitches were fine and took a while but remembering or being able to find the single crochet in the dark rows to make a double crochet became mind numbing and I know that several rows aren’t perfect but they worked out, regardless of the non-alternating flub in a few spaces.

    Houndstooth is deceptively simple but requires a lot of attention and isn’t the pattern if you want to relax and crochet. There are some mini skeins from my stash that I have my eye on to add some flair to otherwise simple hats or scarves. For now, I want to go back to some quick and easy projects that don’t require as much attention beyond the set up rows.

    Single crochet, double crochet; single crochet, double to end, change color at end, change color and chain two and turn, then double crochet in single, single in double etc. ad nauseam… It’s the ad nauseam part that makes you doubt everything you know about counting and changing but it works up beautifully.

    Happy crocheting!

  • Crochet - trial and error

    Dyeing Experiment early 2023

    March 11, 2023 - By 

    Every year or so I have the urge to dye some yarn. Usually, I will buy some Easter Egg dye kits at the end of the season and make some interesting creations. I have a large bag of expired food coloring that was being tossed out from an office move, as well as specifically purchased drink mix packages for dyeing. I still had a couple of hanks of yarn that I had purchased to dye as well as several undyed hanks that I received as part of a mystery box. The goal was to dye at least enough for a couple of scarves to donate to one of my special groups in the fall.

    I started out with bare yarn, soaked it in water and added several containers of food coloring and the red drink mix to the dye pot with water and some vinegar. Then I let the yarn simmer. For this larger amount of yarn, I got out the dye pot that is only used for non-food/craft items. Think tie dying a shirt, not just yarn. The yarn simmered and took most of the dye and became a lovely darker coral-ish color. I wanted a deeper red for one of the hanks, so I purchased some RIT dye and then overdyed one hank and it took on a glorious, lovely deep red shade with darker sections where it was darker in the first dyeing.

    The results are great and both dyeing experiments for early 2023 turned out well. For the future, I think I will use more food coloring, and less water to make the color more concentrated. Either way, it’s for fun and I enjoyed the process and like the results. Most of the yarn is really a mystery because I received it unbanded from a mystery box from a company that I’m not familiar with, so the yarn will truly be one of a kind and will make a special gift.

    Since I have no plans to use it right away, I will wait to wind it and start a project, But for now, I’m just happy admiring my handiwork.

    Happy crocheting!

  • Creative reuse - Crochet

    Back to Basics

    February 8, 2023 - By 

    I like using openwork stitches that work up fast. My favorite is the Granny Stitch. The term loosely lumps many fan or shell stitches together when they are worked in a square or other multi-sided work. The Granny Stitch isn’t the warmest to use for hats or scarves, because of the spaces but is wonderful for blankets.

    Bulky yarn isn’t my favorite but I was gifted two giant balls and figured why not make a lapghan in a granny rectangle? It’s working up nicely and bulky yarn gives an almost immediate sense of accomplishment. A lady asked me about blanket yarn when I was buying yarn in a large store and I said I had an idea for a project, but it’s not my favorite. The yarn was gifted to me.  It’s soft, feels like velvet and  is not too difficult to rip out, if necessary. It’s just not something I would choose, it’s looking nice so far.

    After a few false starts, the afghan I started making using one of my mystery balls has taken off! This time I started a using a rectangular Granny Square. The mystery balls are composed of leftover yarn wound up with black between colors. Same stitch, different yarn: Fun happy project. The bold, irregular sections of color are offset by the black. It has been almost three years since I completed the last mystery ball, and there are five. Each one is roughly the size of a small bowling ball. Now that I found the right stitch to showcase the colors, I’m enjoying the project immensely.

    Lapghans aren’t part of this year’s goal, but I miss making Granny Square afghans, and lapghans work up quickly and they will be donated. The use of Granny Stitch, especially in the blanket yarn will yield warm and cozy blankets similar to thermal blankets. I miss making afghans, which I used to regularly make and donate but stopped when I switched to smaller projects. Making lapghans using the Granny Stitch is a happy medium and allows a lot of variety and flexibility. Depending on how large I make the lapghan, I might be able to make four or five from the mystery balls.

    The fans in the motif don’t use as much yarn as others, so I should be able to make a few colorful pieces, all while using my favorite stitch.

    I’ll keep you posted on my lapghan progress!

    Happy crocheting!

  • Crochet

    Gliding into 2023

    January 2, 2023 - By 

    Before we get too far into the New Year, I need to share my totals for 2022:

          • 115 hat and scarf sets
          • 12 red scarves
          • 36 hats

    plus… a few things made for family and friends.!

     

     

     

    My crochet goals for the 2022 were 25 hats, 100 hat and scarf sets, and 12 red scarves. It may seem like I’m bragging but I’m proud of myself for what I made in 2022.

    Maybe my 2023 crochet goals will remain the same?

    • 12 Red scarves
    • 100 sets
    • 25 hats

    There are a few other non-crocheting projects that I want to work on, so to give me some breathing room… And a chance to live, experiment and play, I’m keeping my goals the same.

    Unfinished: 

    I still didn’t finish the scrapghan that I made the yarn balls for, and I’ve been stashing leftover Puzzle yarn and Mandala Ombre to make a couple of fun throws or lap robes.

    For Christmas I got a lot of Puzzle yarn and I know I’ll have some leftover from sets so throws may be on the docket for this year.

    All I know for sure is that I crochet practically every day, some more days than others and I find it enjoyable. That’s the sentiment I want to carry throughout this new year!

    Happy crocheting!

    Happy 2023!

  • Crochet - Hat and scarf goals

    19 Days Until Christmas

    December 6, 2022 - By 

    Nineteen more days until Christmas. This is just a little pep talk for people who are stressing about making a gift or not making a gift. If you’ve decided to make a gift and you don’t have time to finish it, what about wrapping a promissory note? “I’m making you something but I will finish it by (future date)” and wrap the partially finished product. Unless you have to mail it off. Don’t stress, the holidays don’t need additional stress. Take time to enjoy the holidays. If you have made something or you still have someone else you need to make something for… Relax. I’ve been there – making things at the last minute and it’s not pleasant. Many worst case scenarios arise: You run out of materials, your gauge is off, or you run into a tangle. Best case: If you finish what you have started, at least you started. Congratulate yourself – you made the effort to give someone a handmade gift. Preserving your peace by not making any gifts is fine too! Enjoy the holidays or make something for yourself at a leisurely pace.

    If you forgot to get something for someone and you think you can make something – great! Unsure but still want to try and make something? It’s go time! Don’t stress – make something small. Let’s go back to the promissory note. Write a fun little note “hey, I’m planning on making you *blank* but I ran out of time. I’ll finish it shortly!” Remember – don’t stress yourself. Stress adds pressure, which just makes for mistakes, which creates more stress… relax.

    Whether you crochet fast or slow, you are a crocheter. It’s not a race, crocheting is a craft. Whether you use materials from the dollar store, thrifted materials or a handmade hook out of fine wood using qiviut, you are a crocheter. Use what you can afford, use what you like and grow from the experience. Craft, learn and grow!

    Don’t stress… Do what you can, breathe!

    Happy crocheting!

  • Crochet - Hats and scarves

    55 days until Christmas

    October 31, 2022 - By 

    It’s Halloween and that means that there are 55 days until Christmas! Time to get moving on those holiday gifts!

    No tricks… Just a treat and tip that the holidays are approaching soon and if you plan to make any gifts, you need to start working on them, especially if you need to buy materials.

    There are a couple of things that I am making for Christmas but I already made sure that I have enough, or at least I hope I have enough yarn to make a throw. This was yarn from another project. I have been in that position before furiously crocheting on Christmas Eve or December 23rd aka Christmas Eve-eve trying to finish a gift. I crochet faster now, but I also prefer to have gifts made well ahead of time and then just relax after I have admired my work.

    If you haven’t planned what you are making for a winter holiday, then do it, because it may take a while to get the yarn you need. ALSO – pro-tip – don’t buy just enough of what you need, if you can, purchase an extra skein of yarn. Depending on your gauge and tension, you might use more than the pattern calls for or the yardage may vary from the amount in the skein or hank. Yarn chicken around the holidays is not fun!

    Friendly advice, start on those holiday gifts and projects now, so you will have less stress and more time to spend with those you love.

    I’ve slowed a bit on the crochet goals, since I have met the hat and scarf goal, though I’m still making more. There are two red scarves in progress and a bag of assorted yarn to be used for hats. Hats work up quickly (an hour to 90 minutes depending on the pattern) so I’ve got time before the end of the year.

    Happy crocheting!!!

  • Crochet - Hat and scarf goals - Hats and scarves

    Ninety-one, ninety-two… ninety-nine and a half

    September 23, 2022 - By 

    One hundred sets!

    I went on a cross country train trip to San Diego and crocheted, it was delightful. As I prepared for my vacation, I made the decision not to take any yarn that I hadn’t used before and didn’t attempt any patterns that I hadn’t already tried. I was happy that I’d brought the appropriate amount of yarn: because I finished three sets going, two sets while I was in San Diego and almost five sets on the return trip. Most of the time, during the day while looking out the window enjoying the scenery, I was just happily crocheting the day away.

    Crocheting allowed me to enjoy the scenery when there was daylight as well as take a few photos with breaks for meals and fresh air when we were at longer stops. Also I could have conversations with people while riding unlike reading which is a “closed” activity. In the evenings once the sun set, the activities changed slightly… instead of looking out the window and taking the occasional photograph I read and crocheted. Day and evening I also listened to music and listened to the entire Ring Cycle (Das Rheingold and Die Walkurie going, and Siegfried and Gotterdammerung on the way back).

    Using yarn that I was familiar with was a good plan. Different colors don’t really change the functionality of the yarn but different weights do, so all of the yarn I took with me was yarn I was familiar with, so I could just dig in my bag and work on a project. As I was leaving home, at the last moment, I threw a couple extra skeins of yarn in my bag and they came in handy so I had enough for the entire trip.

    The plan was very good using untried yarns can be frustrating Since my return, I haven’t completed as many projects. I have made a hat, but I’ve also restarted a scarf with a new or yarn, and gave up on a project with another new yarn (that yarn is now in the donation bag). Also, I’ve been combining some odds and ends to make more hats, and started a couple of red scarves.

    During 10-day trip I was able to finish nine and a half hat and scarf sets. The last half of the scarf was completed once I returned home but I still consider it part of the vacation crocheting projects and the cross country train trip put me at my goal of 100 sets! Whoo hoo!

    Three more months to go in 2022, and still lots of yarn in my working stash! Though I have a couple of gifts to make, I will likely hit 110 sets with no difficulty.

    Happy crocheting!

  • Crochet - Donations - Hat and scarf goals - red scarves

    Ahead and behind

    September 3, 2022 - By 

    I am a little behind on the goals I’ve set for myself.

    I crochet fast. It’s not a race, just years of practicing my craft.

    It’s the beginning of September, and I have 90 sets completed, 5 red scarves (goal 12) and 18 hats (goal 30). For sets I’m well ahead but haven’t made as much progress on the other categories. There’s still time. Like I said, not boasting but factually I crochet fast.

    It’ll all sort itself out. I’ll go on a tear and just get a few solo scarves and hats done in a short time.

    Though the numbers for my three goals aren’t equal, I’m happy with what I’ve finished so far!

    A few of the most recent sets are shown here. Eight months of the year have passed and 90 completed sets –  that’s an accomplishment! Wow! My uncle likes to joke that I am running a sweatshop…maybe he’s right.

    Don’t compare yourself. Crochet at your own pace, not mine.

    Does it really matter? Don’t worry about my goals, make your own!

    Happy crocheting!

  • Crochet - red scarves - trial and error

    Giving up… again

    July 1, 2022 - By 

    I saw a yarn online and thought it would be interesting to try. It’s a nice red and black that I could use for the red scarves that I make. When I got it, I dove in and tried it. First attempt:  I made a set, double stranded and I didn’t like it. It wasn’t quite as thick as I thought, but it wasn’t quite right using two strands, either. Second attempt, I tried one strand and made a set. It was okay then after starting, restarting and after the third start of a scarf – I’ve given up on it. I am just not going to use it anymore. After several attempts on this third project, I put the partially completed project, the stopped project (which could be considered a test swatch) and all the rest that I bought into the donation bag for someone else to enjoy. There are just times when you need to give up on a yarn. I wanted to like it and in some ways I do, it’s soft and I like the colors, it’s just not fun to work with. Crocheting is about fun and relaxation for me and I was struggling. Not in the “I don’t like how this stitch looks” or “I think this would be better” inspired restarts that I am wont to do. This was, I made two projects and thought I would like it better if I tried something different the next time, well, I didn’t want to put myself through the abuse and I let it go. Very cathartic.

    It’s not so easy when you find yarn that you think you will like and don’t because it ticks all the boxes, right weight, material, color. Buying online can be challenging because you can’t touch the yarn. Even when you try something new what you see in the store, you don’t know if you will like it or not, until you use it. It’s a chance we all take, which is why many people stick with the yarns they have used because crafting can be expensive.

    I’m never really sure whether I try something in person or online if I haven’t used it. Sometimes, I take a chance and it can be a hit or a miss. Yarn sub may give you a clue if a yarn is similar to something you’ve used before or if it gives a suggested hook size. Other keys that are helpful are if it’s a certain weight or if the fiber composition sounds good. Not all the time, but most of the time I’ve had good luck and finding yarns that are nice online and reasonably priced. I’m always hunting for a bargain when it comes to “working stash yarn” for projects to donate and since I use so much. Generally, I can get a lot of really great yarns that are being discontinued in certain colors or changing seasons.  Then, there are times like this one, where it’s been frustrating to use.  After trying multiple ways of using it, I have given up. I started another project in the same stitch with a different yarn and the project has been enjoyable. Since purging the pretty and frustrating yarn, I feel so much better.

    Yarn doesn’t always work out that’s okay certain stitches look better in some yarns than others or some colors look better than others, that’s okay too. It’s part of the learning process… oh well, I tried it, this didn’t work – keep it moving. Crocheting makes me happy – this yarn was stealing my joy, so it had to go!

    Half of the year has passed, so I took a quick tally to share my progress on my different goals.

        • 66 Hat and scarf sets
        • 18 Hats
        • 3 Red scarves

    Plus a few things in progress!

    Happy crocheting!

  • Creative reuse - Crochet - leftover yarn

    How do you use your leftover yarn?

    May 19, 2022 - By 

    For me, one way of using up leftover yarn is to make oddball hats.

    There is never the right amount of yarn for a project. When you buy something just as when you guy a carton of eggs and only need 3 for a recipe, you will have some left over. Depending on the style of the hats and scarf I make, there may be yarn left over. Knowing this, I purposely set aside the yarn that I have just to make some hats to donate to an organization. Some hats can be made with less than 150 yards of yarn while others are quite thirsty and require 200 yards or more. A good rule of thumb is to have about 200 yards of yarn to make a hat. A crochet swirl hat or a half double beanie (or toque) won’t take as much as a hat with front/back post ribbing or cables.

    As I complete some sets, I put the remaining yarn into a bag. Since I’m beyond the halfway point of 100 sets and it’s May, I’m taking a few days to just make hats. Even after making a couple of hats, I have some yarn left and will combine those with gray or brown and use the them to make hats with accents. If you haven’t figured this out yet, I don’t like to waste yarn. When it gets to a very small amount <5 yards, I add it to a mystery ball.

    Making hats with a limited about of yarn is fun because there are constraints… almost like yarn chicken in every hat. Ok, not really. I save the bands for yarn and some will give a yardage. If I have unused full balls, or I can rewind the partially used ones to give me a better estimate of how much I have. I could weigh the yarn to get an idea of how much I have. That’s more accurate, but not as much fun. Instead, I reach into one of the bags and see how much I have, then go through the hat patterns that I have committed to memory and begin.

    I’m impressed with the end results – warm hats.

    There’s still a bit of yarn left in the bag and hopefully I’ll make a dent in the bag once I make 10 hats or so. Then I’ll go back to making sets and continue to add to the bag. It’s an ongoing cycle. Unless I put the remainder back into my working stash because I bought a large quantity on sale and will use it later. There’s always a plan, even if I don’t know what it is when I begin. That’s the creative part.

    Happy crocheting!