Serape Inspired Cowl

After finishing a baby blanket in this yarn the wrong side reminded me of the Mexican serapes I used to see in Tijuana. I liked the idea of the pattern as a cowl, which is currently my favorite thing to grab and throw on as I dash out the door. It’s freeeeezing now in Shanghai and this is a great final layer.

Used leftover bits from 13 colors of yarn. Knit a 30” tube in garter stitch.

These days nothing seems finished to me unless it’s got a crocheted edging. Thank heavens for Edie Eckman’s “Around the Corner”. I used pattern number 2 at the lower edge; and pattern number 20 on the top edge. I did round 2 in purple and round 3 in green, adding a 3 stitch picot at the top of each scallop. This is one of my most used stitch dictionaries, with easy to read written instructions and charts that make customizing it to work for your project easy.   

Knit Headband with Crocheted Flower

Something to keep Delaney's ears warm at school. We saw a headband at Anthropologie that was similar and much more expensive and not nearly as soft as the ball of yarn it took to make this.

Crochet Flower Motif Pattern

Ch 51

Row 1: (dc, ch 2, dc) in 5th ch from hook, *ch 2, skip 2 ch; dc, ch 2, dc in next ch* to last stitch, dc in last ch

Row 2: ch 3, turn, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in first ch-2 space, *skip next ch-2 space, (ch 2, 2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch-2 space, repeat from * to last stitch then dc in last dc

Row 3: turn, *9 dc in next ch-2 space, (sl st, ch 1, sl st, ch 1) in next ch-2 space, repeat from * to end of row, tie off. Weave in end.

Flower shown here is done with Cascade Yarns Eco Duo and a size "G" hook.

Freeform Afghan #2

Finished! My second attempt at a Freeform Blanket

For weekly notes and photos on how this thing came together click on read more below

Freeform Afghan #1

Blanket made from scrumbles collected during a round robin swap. Finished size is 50" x 72".

Sari Silk Bolsters

Sari Silk Bolsters

I knit a tube then attached crocheted circles to each end.

Freeform Crochet Fun & Frivolity Crochet-a-Long

In April 2010 a group on Ravelry started a Crochet-a-Long with weekly instructions submitted by different designers. I'd participated in a similar project earlier in the year & thought it was a great way to go about crocheting. I completed the first four weeks. Then, as I was packing up to leave Shanghai for the summer it was just too much to fit in my suitcase. So I washed it, cut it up, felted it and cut it up some more and ended up using the pieces in a bag.

Following are the instructions as they appeared on the Ravelry site and pictures of what I did. My notes are in blue.

The 2010 International Freeform Guild's Show: Somewhere in My World

My entry into the International Freeform Guild show.

It’s kind of boring for freeform. It did serve my purpose of figuring out how to build up crochet into a form. And it is reminiscent of the hill I see out my window.

The main page of the exhibit is quite intriguing and the variety of techniques used and approaches to freeform is truly inspiring.

Crochet Spiral Motifs

3 Color Spiral Motif

Instructions:
Form an adjustable ring by looping the end of A behind itself putting the yarn tail behind the working yarn (the yarn coming from the skein); hold the end against the loop and insert the hook in the center of the ring. Work stitches over both strands of yarn.


Round 1: With A, CH 1, (SC, HDC, DC) in ring, remove hook from loop (pull loop long so stitches don't unravel); join B to ring and CH 1, (SC, 2 HDC) in ring, remove hook from loop; join C to ring and CH 1, 3 SC in ring, place marker in last stitch to mark the end of the round (9 stitches). Do not remove your hook from C. Pull the yarn tail to tighten the ring.


Round 2: Continuing with C, [2 SC in next stitch] 3 times, remove hook from loop and reinsert in loop of A; with A, [2 DC in next stitch] 3 times, remove hook from loop and reinsert in loop of B; with B, [2 HDC in next stitch] 3 times (18 stitches). Note that a pattern has been set up: You will always work C into A, A into B, and B into C. It is very useful to mark the last stitch of the round, because the end is actually in the middle of a section of a particular color.


Round 3: Continue as above using DC - with 1 or 2 DC in each stitch as needed to keep piece lying flat. Continue until desired size. To finish each color, do 2 HDC, 2 SC and slip last stitch.

Apostrophe Crochet Motif

Begin with a sliding loop. Chain 9. 1 sc in 2nd chain from hook. 1 sc in next chain. 1 hdc in each of next 2 chains. 1 dc in each of next 2 chains. 1htr in next chain. 10 tr in next chain (the sliding loop). Now, going back up on the other side: 1 htr, then 2 dc, the 2 hdc, then 1 sc, then ss in the top stitch. Tie off.

I made the motifs above with a variety of yarns, all using an "F" hook. Sizes vary from 3 1/2 x 1 7/8 (variegated chenille - the really dark one at the top) to 2 3/4 x 1 1/2 (smallest blue one).

This a great motif to incorporate into freeform pieces because it is very flexible & conforms to different shapes. It can also form the basis of a paisley shape by adding additional rounds and decreasing on one side to pull the top around.