Tag Archives: single crochet

March 12, 2011 · 8:45 am

Star Motif Pattern

You can use this pattern for so many different things.  You can connect them to make a scarf by single crocheting along the edging, or you can use the join-as-you-go method to create an afghan!  I was looking for a star motif pattern and just could not find anything that I liked, so I did it myself.

Materials:

  • 2  colors worsted weight yarn
  • Size I Crochet hook.

Gauge:  Not critical, but you can increase or decrease the hook size if you want a larger or smaller star.  This one measures about 7 inches from the tip of the left arm to the tip of the right arm.

Round 1: With first color,  ch 5, join with sl st in first ch to form a loop,  ch 1, 25 sc in loop, join with sl st to first sc.

Round 2: Ch 1, sc in same st, hdc in next sc, [dc, ch1, dc] in next sc, hdc in next sc, sc in next sc, * sc in next sc, hdc in next sc, [dc, ch 1, dc] in next sc, hdc in next sc, sc in next sc, repeat from* three times more, join with sl st to first sc, finish off.

Round 3: Join next color with sc in first hdc of any section, hdc in next st, [2dc, ch2, 2 dc] in ch 1 sp, hdc in next st, sc in next st, skip next 2 sc, * sc in next st, hdc in next st [2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc] in ch 1 sp, hdc in next st, sc in next st, skip next 2 sc, repeat from * 3 times more, join with sl st to first sc.

Round 4: Sl st in next st, ch1, sc in same st, hdc in each of next 2 sts, [2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc] in next ch 2 sp, hdc in each of next 2 sts, sc in next st, skip next 2 sts, * sc in next st, hdc in each of  next 2 sts [2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc] in next ch 2 sp, hdc in each of next 2 sts, sc in next sc, skip next 2 sts, repeat from * 3 times more, finish off.

Round 5: Join next color with sc in second st of any section, hdc in each of next 3 sts, [2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc] in next ch 2 sp, hdc in each of next 3 sts,  sc in next st, skip next 2 sts, *sc in next st, hdc in each of next 3 sts, [2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc] in next ch 2 sp, hdc in each of next 3 sts, sc in next st, skip next 2 sts, repeat from * 3 times more, join with sl st to first sc.

Round 6: Sl st in next st, ch 2, dc in each of next 4 sts, [2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc] in next ch 2 sp, dc in each of next 4 sts, hdc in next st, skip next 2 sts, *hdc in next st, dc in next 4 sts, [2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc] in next ch 2 sp, dc in each of next 4 sts, hdc in next st, skip next 2 sts, repeat from * 3 times more, join with sl st to first ch 2, finish off.

Weave all yarn ends.

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March 7, 2011 · 7:15 pm

Disappointing Delicious Pullover

Just to be clear to begin with, this is NOT made with the red sparkle yarn I harvested the other day.

This is a very pretty sweater for which the pattern was included in the January 2011 issue of Crochet! magazine called “Berry Delicious Pullover.”   It was made with Red Heart Sparkle, medium worsted weight yarn.  The design on the piece is made with a modified puff stitch they call the berry stitch.  The pyramids of berries on the waist and the sleeves and the inverted pyramid on the collar are really very neat.  All other stitches are single crochet with increasing and decreasing for shaping.

I must say however, that I am extremely disappointed.  It looks nice enough right? Yeah, well I had a couple different issues with this thing.

The Pattern – There were multiple errors in the sizing of this pattern.  I made the medium size and found as I worked that the optional number of stitches for the various sizing were not always correct  (Sc in each of next 4[4, 6, 6, 6, 8] sts – for XS, S, M, L, XL & 2XL, for example.)  A few rows even left out a whole section of the row that had to be worked.  Normally when I work on a project, I have to tell myself, “Just trust the pattern.  It will work out alright.” if I find myself having trouble seeing the pattern doing what I think it is supposed to do.  But I got to the point as I worked with this pattern that I could not trust that it wasn’t me doing something wrong instead of the pattern being in correct.   I don’t think that this pattern was tested in all sizes before it was published.  Very disappointing, and I’ll be hesitant to crochet something like this from Crochet! for some time.

My Gauge – Oh boy…  I made this sweater intending it for myself.  I’ve never made myself a sweater before – just others. So I wanted something pretty to wear that I had made.  Let me say this.  I DID check my gauge!  The medium size is supposed to have a 37 1/2 inch bust, which is larger than what I needed, but the next size down was too small.  When I finished it up and tried it on, it sort of fit, but not really.  I could get it on, but it was a really close, snug fit – not at all the relaxed comfortable fit displayed in the  product picture.  I won’t wear it.  It’s just too snug, probably closer to a 32 than a 37 1/2.  And I won’t go back and make another one either considering all the mistakes in the pattern.  Which again cause me to wonder if I made a mistake in my gauge, or if the pattern’s sizing was actually incorrect.  Medium actually equaled extra small I think.

I’m very bummed.  Anyway, maybe I’ll try and sell it on Etsy or something.  It is very pretty once I got past the pattern errors and got it finished.  Just not for me.  Will anyone who is on the tiny side (or with a pre-teen daughter maybe) give me $25 for it?  If you do, and you send me pictures of her modeling it I will post here!  Lots of hours went into working this up.  Ha!

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February 21, 2011 · 3:49 pm

Fisherman’s Crochet Pullover

I made this sweater for my Husband’s birthday this month.  It turned out great!   The pattern comes from the Craft Yarn Council’s website here.    Instead of white yarn, I used Fishermen’s Wool from Lion Brand in “Oak Tweed.”

I’ve made this sweater three times now and it is still the most difficult pattern I have ever used.  The cable stitches in the Celtic Knot are challenging themselves and are created by using front-post double crochets, skipping stitches and working in front of or behind previous stitches to pick up the skipped stitch.  But it is difficult to follow the pattern itself as well as some of the raglan shaping is not very clear.  I need to just rewrite this pattern for myself. 

In addition, the pattern for the Celtic Knot itself is actually not accurate.  The knot is supposed to weave “over-under-over” or “under-over-under” for each cable.  However the given pattern does not do this.  Some of them go “over-over-under” and vice-versa, and even “over-over-over.”  They have actually updated this pattern since the first time I found it on the site and it now includes a diagram of  how the cables are woven for the knot.  It appears, according to this diagram, that the given pattern is intentional – not a mistake.  Fortunately, I have another pattern book with cable patterns which includes this same Celtic Knot – woven correctly.  So I worked from both patterns as I made this sweater.  I actually did not even realize that the pattern for the knot was incorrect until this time around.  I must have made the previous two “incorrectly.”

But regardless, my Husband has a new sweater – challenging or not.  And I have to say that it looks great on him!  Happy Birthday Baby!

(Most Definitely) Stitched in Love,

Tatha

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February 6, 2011 · 8:27 pm

Athena’s Doggie Rib Warmer

This is our Cocker Spaniel Athena.  Doesn’t she look adorable in this doggie sweater I made for her?   I purchased a crochet desk calendar this year that has patterns on each day.  I’d been wanting to make Athena a sweater and I found the perfect pattern in this calendar. 

It’s made with alternating rows of treble crochets and single crochets.  Alternating front and back post stitches are used across the chest to make a more comfortable, stretchy fit.  The “turtle neck” is made with ribbing, crocheting in the back loop of each row – an effect that I am particularly fond of as it gives a piece a very nice finish.

Athena’s had her own store-bought sweater up till now, however it’s been so cold this winter that she’s really worn it out.  She ought to stay warm now!

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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