Yet another Lacy Scarf

I just added another 'lacy scarf' pattern to my Etsy shop.  This one is fun to make because it is easy and it makes up fast.  Perhaps a little old-ladyish?  I can't really tell, but hopefully my teenage niece as well as my mom will like it.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

A couple of years ago I designed this scarf for my sister-in-law, who was diagnosed with breast cancer. (She just passed her 5 year mark - yay!) I've made the pattern is available for free download from my Ravelry shop for you to  make for someone special.

download now

MATERIALS REQUIRED:

Approximately 6 oz. of worsted weight yarn
Size F crochet hook (metric size 3.75; English size 8)

APPROXIMATE FINISHED SIZE: 5" wide by 55" long

Snow in Texas in August...

I must be unconsciously dreaming of cold weather since the heat this summer in Texas has been beyond oppressive. How else to explain my current obsession with making hats? This one is made with bits and pieces of novelty yarns left over from a recent reorganization of my vast and mysterious yarn stash.

When Aliens Attack

My mom is big into conspiracy theories, including alien abductions and the like. A old skein of neon green yarn and a lazy afternoon produced something she can wear to her MUFON meetings...

Hooded Scarf, or Scood to you.

With blizzards seemingly everywhere this winter this simple head wrap seems like a good idea. It's called a 'scood' - short for 'hooded scarf.' Or should that be 'scarf with a hood'? In any case, it will keep both head and neck warm.

Pattern available in my etsy shop or on Ravelry.

Make a Rose Scarflette for Valentine's Day

A customer asked for this design not long ago, and I had a lot of fun trying to figure out the easiest way to construct it. After a few false starts, I finally came up with something I'm happy with. It can be made with a tie (shown) or a button closure.

Pattern available in my etsy shop or on Ravelry.

The Biggie Circle Scarf

I have been admiring the circle scarfs that seem to be so popular, especially the moebius strip type that, technically speaking, have only one side. Alas, my version has two sides but it is very easy to make and works up fast (would you believe less than an hour?) when you use a giant hook (size Q) and 5-6 strands of yarns at a time.

Pattern available in my etsy shop.

Easy Crocheted Hooded Cowl

Our first cold snap put me in the mood to create something warm. This cowl will keep your neck warm. Or pull it up over your head like a hood to keep your head and ears warm. Or pull it down over your shoulders to keep them warm. Or do all three.

Pattern available in my etsy shop.

Ready for the Renaissance Faire

This Juliet cap was specially requested by a friend. It takes less that 100 yards of yarn, can be easily finished up in a hour or two, and it's absolutely perfect for the Texas Renaissance Festival! If you've never been, I strongly encourage you to go - and wear your walking shoes.

Pattern available in my etsy shop.

Roses and Vines

Summer is just around the corner. Roses blooming all around me inspire this new lariat design.

Pattern available in my etsy shop.

How to Make your Swiffer Green

I have a Swiffer and I like it. But I keep forgetting to buy those sheets for them. And since I am a bit of a tightwad, I resent having to buy them in the first place. They seem expensive, don't you think? Anyway, a crocheted swiffer sock pattern over at Craftstylish looked like a cheap (and green) solution - a reuseable cover that can go in the washing machine. The next thing that popped into my head was those 50's crocheted dusting mitts with the loops. I'm a sucker for everything mid-century modern so I had to have one with loops. Add research on the loop stitch and ugly old acrylic yarn and I've got my loopy duster. And I bet synthetic yarn is better at creating static electricity than the fancy stuff anyway.

Oreo cookies that never get stale

I had some leftover black and white yarn from an amigurumi class that just finished up. Guess what I couldn't get out of my mind? For each cookie, make two black and 1 white of the following:

• CH 2. Work 6 SC in the second CH from the hook.


• Make 2 SC in each of the 6 stitches (12 SC total.)


• (SC 1, make 2 SC in the next stitch) all the way around (18 SC total.)


• (SC for 2, make 2 SC in the next stitch) all the way around (24 SC total.)


• SL ST to the next SC and finish off. Weave in loose ends.

Use a tapestry needle and a length of the black yarn to sew together the three pieces with a running stitch. Now I'm off to the store to compare them to the real thing...

Felt Nest with Robin Eggs

This little nest with robins eggs measures about 3 inches across. I sewed on a pinback so I can wear it. Can these count as Easter Eggs?

Curly Q

I saw a scarf somewhere that was filled with these spirals. I tried to make something similar but it just took too darn long (and used too much yarn.) So I went for a lariat instead. Still get the fun spirals but you can make it in an evening with much less yarn.

Pattern available in my etsy shop.

Crocheted Pillbox Hat

For some time now I have been a little obsessed with creating a pillbox hat. I'm not sure of the source of the urge since 1) I don't wear hats myself, 2) 'fashionable' is not an adjective that describes me, and 3)I live in a part of the country where the purpose of a hat is to keep the hot sun off of your face (or neck, as the case may be.) But, still, a cute little pillbox hat. Just the name sounds exotic. I originally envisioned a felted one, but that hasn't worked out too well. Probably I need a hat form for felt to work. Instead, here is what I finally came up with - a pillbox hat of sorts. I used an extra bulky yarn and added a novelty yarn for the 'flash' factor.

Pattern available at my etsy shop.

Crocheted Fern Scarf

This scarf design was inspired by the wispy look of ferns, so I've titled it the 'fern scarf.' It was crocheted using a bulky yarn and a large hook. I also tried with a blue-gray yarn, in which case it looked a bit more like the 'fishbone scarf.' Stick with green.

Pattern available at my Etsy shop.

Crocheted Rose Lariat

I love surfing etsy - everyone is so creative and it helps get me moving forward again when I get in a slump. One thing I've noticed lately is the 'lariat.' To me a lariat always meant a lasso, but apparently it can also be a length of yarn that has been fancied up a bit. I guess it's a little flourish to wear around your neck. My version has little rosettes made with a chenille-ish yarn.

Pattern available at my Etsy shop.

Crocheted Wrist Warmers

These fingerless gloves super easy to make and very popular with the young crowd (my 15 year old niece was the impetus behind their design...) Using only Chains, Single Crochets and Slip Stitches, you can knock these out in an evening. I used worsted weight yarn and a size F hook with these.

Pattern available at my Etsy shop.

Ear Flaps Required

Don't obsess about the doll head. I know it's a little creepy, but I didn't have a real baby handy to test the fit and I had the urge today to come up with a wool cap for my soon-to-be new nephew. Tomorrow we leave for the soon-to-be new nephew's soon-to-be parents' house to celebrate Christmas and I want to have a little something for the new kid.

In any case, this is what I came up with and I sorta like it! Just the thing for a kid here in Austin. But Ft. Worth? Hmmm...

Pattern available at my Etsy shop.

Cold hands, cold heart?

DH gave me his 'I am extremely perplexed about what my wife is doing with her time' look when I showed him these things. I saw something similar somewhere and immediately thought, 'how cute! how feminine! And they look pretty easy to make and don't use much yarn.' They would probably make more sense if I lived where you actually need a coat in the winter. But I still think they would look cute peeking out from under a coat sleeve.

Pattern available at my Etsy shop.