January 1, 2011 · 8:39 pm

Crochet Guild of America


Alright!  I joined the Crochet Guild of America today!  I’ll get my subscription to Crochet! magazine, and free entry to the 2011 Chain Link Conferences and Knit and Crochet Shows.

I really want to go to the conference in July in Minneapolis. I’m very excited about this!

Other benefits include:  (With one-year membership.)

  • Six mailed issues of Crochet! magazine with Chain Link newsletter inserted.
  • Password to exclusive member online pages.
  • Member message board and CGOA Now blog.
  • Exclusive national e-retail discounts.
  • Annual Chain Link conference – free show floor entry and member discounts on events.
  • Discounts on professionally taught classes at annual conferences.
  • Member fashion show at Chain Link.
  • Members-only CGOA Design Contests.
  • Discounts on any CGOA educational offerings.
  • Link to free e-booklet of patterns from CGOA in member confirmation.
  • Eligible to apply for Professional Crocheter status.
  • Right to vote at CGOA Annual Meetings.

Stitched in Love,

Tatha

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December 28, 2010 · 8:33 am

Bubble Gum Hat & Scarf

This is my Niece, Kaeli, and the first of the Christmas presents that I will post for this year.  I had this yarn that I had started a knitting project with but never finished.  I had wanted to learn how to knit and picked up a book and taught myself the basics.  But I just don’t enjoy it as much as crocheting so I’ve all but given it up. 

So instead I decided to use the rest of the yarn for this set.  The yarn is bulky and fun.  The colors make me think of bubble gum and just seemed perfect for a little girl.  It is hard to work with though as you can’t really see your own stitches in the last row or round, and I had to crochet it mostly by feel of where the loops were.  The Scarf was a little easier than the hat as I just used a single crochet and chain one stitch.  That way I could single crochet each row in the spaces from the previous row, making it much easier to feel where to insert the hook. 

I had to modify the pattern for the hat slightly so it wouldn’t be too big for a little girl’s head, and I was so worried that it wouldn’t fit.  But it seemed to work nicely. 

Stitched in Love,

Tatha

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December 26, 2010 · 10:54 pm

Copy-Cat Pansy

I was visiting my husband’s family in Iowa for Christmas this weekend.  While there, my Mother-in-Law showed me some doilies she had picked up at a thrift store.  This multi colored pansy doily was one of them.  I had brought some thread with me to work on making some crocheted snowflakes and I thought this was so pretty I decided to try to see if I could replicate it.

This is what I ended up with.  It was such a lovely idea and I enjoyed the challenge of seeing if I could reproduce the piece.  I left both the original and the copy-cat version with my mother-in-law, but I will see if I can write the pattern down and add it here.

I will also be posting quite a few Christmas presents given this year.  I haven’t been able to post them until now because I wanted them to be surprises for the recipients!

Stitched in Love,

Tatha

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December 18, 2010 · 10:29 am

Variegated Ripple Wrap

I am always cold at work.  For years I had been meaning to make myself a wrap that I could leave at work to help keep me warm and I finally did it last year.  I have several crochet books that just have pattern stitches in them.  They’re really great because they give me ideas for projects, but  I don’t have to be limited by a specific project.  These pattern books provide instructions on the stitches for the pattern but then they tell you how many stitches to do for one repeat, allowing you to make your project as big or as small as you want to.

This pattern called for an open stitch with alternating chain 1 spaces made on one side, but I wanted this wrap to be warmer so I modified it slightly.  I made the open stitches  for the first three rows for decorative appeal, but then I changed to making the closed stitches for the length of the wrap.  Then I changed back to the open stitches for the last three rows on the  far end to finish it off.

Like I’ve said, I just love variegated yarn.  The gradual changes in color are what makes this piece really neat, not  really the pattern.  And the yarn does it as if by magic.  I could not have planned the width of these ripples and how often the color changed to make the color pattern here. 

I made this wrap super long so that after I wrap it around my shoulders, I can also wrap it twice around each of my arms for extra warmth if needed.  I will add another post here shortly with the modified pattern I used to create this wrap.

Stitched in Love,

Tatha

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December 13, 2010 · 8:04 am

Super-Long Scarf

My boss is moving to our office in Rockland, Maine.  So I made him this scarf to keep warm.  He had mentioned that he used to have this really long scarf that was very thick.  He said that he could fold it in half, wrap it around his neck and thread the loose ends though the folded end.  So I made him one that he could do just so with.

This monster is 58 inches long, folded in half! 

It is made with a bulky yarn by holding two strands at once to make it extra thick and warm.  But to keep it flexible, I used single crochet and chain 1 stitches.  The ends are made in single crochet stitches with a two stitch increase (at the beginning) or decrease (at the end) for 4 rows.

That ought to keep him warm!

Stitched in Love,

Tatha

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December 12, 2010 · 12:28 pm

Original hDc

 I started this afghan when I was somewhere around 13 or 14 years old, just after I had first learned how to crochet.  I guess you could say it was the first design I ever made.  I’d decided to make an afghan and just did row after row of half-double crochets with a variegated Red Heart yarn named Wedgewood. 

I love variegated yarns.  I love the crazy patterns they end up making.  So many times I am surprised at what comes out and I never could have planned it to come out better.  I have some other pieces I’ll post shortly that demonstrate this even better. 

So, I worked on this afghan off and on over the years.  It started as a way to explore crocheting further and I soon went on to working from patterns and started making all the gifts I came to love to give.  But every once in a while I would pull this back out and work on it some more.  The row after row of half-double crochets was pretty dull to work on, but the patterns that developed as I worked and changed skeins helped.  The hDc stitch makes a very warm blanket too.  I finally finished it just a couple of years ago. 

It’s just a simple blanket for under the comforter on the bed.  You can see the fading at the top of the picture from the yarn I started with 15 years ago, and the difference from the more recent yarn.  I don’t feel it’s gift quality, but that’s ok because I really just made it for myself anyway.  For me it represents getting past the initial stages of doubt as I learned how to crochet and moving on to having the confidence in myself to be able to crochet anything I set my mind to.  Not to mention, it has been the longest running, unfinished project I’ve ever had.

Stitched in Love,

Tatha

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December 2, 2010 · 6:11 pm

Accidental Toque-Blanche

This is what happens when you forget to check your gauge!  This was supposed to be a beret but ended up more like a chef’s hat.  Using too big of a crochet hook made it too big, and the double yarn used made it stand up.  It has to be one of the cutest mistakes I ever made.

Always check your gauge!

Stitched in Love,

Tatha

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November 29, 2010 · 1:01 am

Wedding Handkerchiefs

Another gift made for my wedding…  I wanted to make something for my Bridesmaids that they could use for  my wedding that would go with my colors and their dresses.  So I crocheted lace edging on handkerchiefs for them.  I found a unique hankie with their respective initials for each of them on Ebay and then used the same variegated thread for the edging that I had used on some of my candle holders. 

The pattern for these was incredibly simple.  The hardest part was crocheting the base stitches around the handkerchief, right through the material.  After that it was just a matter of chain stitches and single crochet stitches in the spaces those chains made, repeating this around the handkerchief until the desired width was achieved.  Believe it or not, this part actually took quiet a bit of time.

 I made my sister’s slightly different by using white thread for the lace and then using a single round of the variegated thread with picot stitches on the last row.

I also crocheted hankies for both my Mom and my husband’s Mom, each with their initials too.

I used a very simple pattern for these.  However, there are countless lace patterns out there that are more detailed and complex.  Have you done lace edging for a handkerchief?  I would love to see pictures if you have!

Stitched in Love,

Tatha

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November 28, 2010 · 2:42 pm

Pattern – Candle Holders

Materials:

  •  Glasses – These can be any liquor type glasses either purchased new or found at a thrift store.  The sizes included here are 21/4 inches and 31/4 inches in diameter.  Taller glasses may also be used if desired.
  • #10 size crochet thread. One spool will make at least three small covers.
  • Size 6 (1.80mm) crochet hook
  • Scissors

Gauge: 5 rows dc = 1 inch.

 

Instructions: Written for 21/4” diameter holders, with optional rows for 31/4” diameter.

Row 1: Ch 3.  Join to first ch with slip stitch to form a ring.  Ch 3 (counts as first dc of next row now and throughout.) 8 Dc in ring.  Join to first dc made with slip stitch.

Row 2: Ch 3.  *Dc in next dc, ch 1* around to first dc. Join to first dc made with slip stitch.

Row 3: Ch 3.  *2 dc in first ch 1 sp. Dc in next dc* around to first dc. Join to first dc made with slip stitch.

Row 4: Ch 3.  Dc in next dc. *Ch 1, dc in next 2 dc* around to first dc. Join to first dc made with slip stitch.

Row 5: Ch 3.  *2 dc in first ch 1 sp. Dc in next 2 dc* around to first dc. Join to first dc made with slip stitch.

Row 6: Ch 3.  Dc in next 3.  *Ch 1, dc in next 4 dc* around to first dc. Join to first dc made with slip stitch.

Row 7: Ch 3.  *Dc in next 4 dc. 2 dc in next ch 1 sp* around to first dc. Join to first dc made with slip stitch.

Optional Row 1 for 31/4” Diameter Holder: Ch 3.  Dc in next 7 dc, ch 1.  *Dc in next 8 dc, ch 1* around to first dc. Join to first dc made with slip stitch.

Optional Row 2: Ch 3.  Dc in next 7 dc.  *2 dc in next ch 1 sp. Dc in next 8 dc* around to first dc. Join to first dc made with slip stitch.  (Continue with Row 7.)

Row 8: Ch 3.  Dc in next dc and in each around. Join to first dc made with slip stitch.

Repeat row 8 until the base of your glass can be covered and you have enough rows to form a base.  I repeated 3 times on the small glass and 6 times on the large glass.  This is a personal preference.

Lattice Row 1: Ch 4.  Skip next 2 dc, dc in next dc.  *Ch 2, skip next 2 dc, dc in next dc* around to first dc. Join to first dc made with slip stitch.

Lattice Row 2: Slip stitch in first ch 2 sp, ch 4. *Ch 2, dc in next ch 2 sp* around to first dc. Join to first dc made with slip stitch.

Repeat Lattice Row 2 until your entire glass is enclosed when the cover is slid on. 

Top Row: Ch 3. *2 dc in next ch 2 sp, dc in next dc* around to first dc. Join to first dc made with slip stitch.  Finish off.   Trim and weave thread ends.

Stitched in Love,

Tatha

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November 28, 2010 · 12:44 am

Candle Holders

This piece is one that I designed myself, and it was also for my wedding.  We needed 30 center pieces for the tables at our reception.  We really couldn’t see buying 30 floral arrangements that would just die, so we looked to the artistic front.  Fortunately, each of us has some sort of artistic side…

My husband collects vinyl records.  He has hundreds, maybe thousands of them.  So we went through them and picked  out the wedding and love themed albums.  Here are a few examples. 

My Dad made some really great wooden stands to hold the records and painted them a metallic silver. We placed one on each of the tables along with some “diamond confetti” and rose petals.

But, getting to the crochet part…

My Husband-to-be was now represented so I tried to think of something I could crochet to add to the centerpiece that would not be too casual or country for a formal wedding.  I came up with candle holder covers that we could put a tea-light in! 

I made this so simple and cheap.  I went to Goodwill and bought 30 small liqor type glasses.  I don’t think I spent more than $15.  I bought different shapes and patterns, they didn’t all have to be the same.  To make the covers, I used two different colors of thread, a dark blue that matched the sash on my wedding dress, and a variegated pastel that matched my bridesmaids’ lavender dresses. 

The covers were made with double crochet stitches, using increases to form the base, and then a combination of  double crochets and chain twos to create the rest of the cover wich was then easily slid on. Click HERE for pattern instructions.

These candle holders also doubled as gifts to some close friends and family members, as we told them to feel free to take a few off the tables as they left our reception that evening.  I even saved a few myself as keepsakes from our special day.

Stitched in Love,

Tatha


 

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