This blog contains posts about both original designs and items I've made based on others' patterns. Any patterns posted here are my original work and are my sole property. They may be printed for personal use but may not be copied or reposted. Items are intended for personal use, gifts, or sale for charity.

29 October 2011

Thread Crochet Table Runner




  Update 3/2/2012: I picked this back up in mid-January and finished it at the end of February.  I blocked it and ironed it, and then I promptly proceeded to ruin it.  I burned it with the iron.  I had about a week to try and salvage it before the auction, so I dyed it with tea to hide the burns.  It's not perfect, but it's a lot better.  The auction is tomorrow, so we shall see what it earns.



Update 11/4: Here's the first week's progress.  I'm participating in National Novel Writing Month, so progress will be slow for November.  This table runner will definitely require blocking, but I think it will turn out nicely.












I've begun work on a thread crochet table runner using this pattern.  I plan to offer it at an auction to benefit my son's school.
There's not much to say about it at this point.  It's worked in size 10 thread with a size 7 steel hook.  It's a logical, easy pattern that progresses quickly, the sort of item that you can hook while watching Fringe and still follow the story line.

It's likely that I will put it down for a few weeks while I engage in NaNoWriMo, but there's a good long while before the auction, so I'm in no hurry.

Here's hoping nostalgia will fetch a decent price!

27 October 2011

Cascading Keyhole Scarf

With a nod to Rebecca's Cascade Scarf , I created this pattern after making my daughter's keyhole scarf.  I wanted a full-sized scarf for myself and have been interested in working a cascading scarf for a while.  This pattern uses similar construction techniques to the one cited above, but the pattern has enough modifications that I thought it warranted its own post.






Worked in a neutral textured yarn, this is a nice compliment to a fall wardrobe.  The keyhole design uses less yarn than a conventional scarf because the scarf is shorter.  Because it hangs in the center, it wears well with a jacket or blazer.

This yarn came from my grandmother's stash and was unlabeled.  I am not sure what its official weight or fiber content is, but it is slightly stretchy and seems to be a heavy worsted-weight yarn.  It is comprised of synthetic strands of ecru and brown and an elastic strand of black.  It has a texture similar to readily-available boucle yarns.

Cascading Keyhole Scarf
Guage: 11 st = 4 in
Yarn: just over 2 50g balls of worsted weight yarn
Hook: Size J

A NOTE ON GAUGE: Several people who have made this scarf have found that their scarf ends up shorter than mine. It is a simple matter to increase the number of stitches in your starting chain, though this may alter the placement of the keyhole.  Again, the yarn I used was unlabeled, so it is entirely possible it was aran weight rather than worsted. It's probably a good idea to check the length after the first or second row just to make sure it's what you want.

Ch 97.
Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (96 sc)
Row 2: ch 2, turn. hdc in same st, hdc in next st, (2 hdc in next st, hdc in next st) across. (144 hdc)
Row 3: ch 3, turn. dc in same st, dc in next 2 st, (2 dc in next st, dc in next st, dc in next st) across.
(192 dc)
Row 4: ch 4, turn. tr in same st, tr in each of the next 3 st, (2 tr in next st, tr in each of the next 3 st)
until 56 st away from end, ch 6, sk next 6 st, resume pattern (keyhole made). (240 tr)
Row 5: 2 sc in each st across. (480 sc) Finish off. No edging.

25 October 2011

Dresser Scarf


This is a dresser scarf I made for my mom last Christmas.  I used motif pattern 4004 from mypicot.com , size 10 crochet thread, and a size 7 steel hook.  I am very interested in thread crochet but have yet to develop the patience to see a large-scale project through.

mypicot.com has fun, modern motifs.  I recommend the site to anyone who is interested in thread crochet but who wants to do something other than vintage crochet.


           
               Here is a detail of the motif.









24 October 2011

Ribbed Picot Keyhole Scarf for Toddler


This is the first pattern I've posted online.  Please let me know if you find errors, and feel free to post any modifications you make in the comments section.

This pattern is my sole property.  You may print it for purposes of making the project, but you may not sell or repost this pattern.  Items made from this pattern are for personal use or may be used as gifts or sold for charity.



YARN: Bernat Cottontots, Green
HOOK: I, 5.5 mm
Pattern uses US terminology.

Note: All hdc worked into back loops only.

Ch 91.
Row 1: hdc into back ridge of 3rd ch (counts as first hdc),  hdc into back ridge of each ch.
Row 2: ch 2, turn (counts as first hdc here and throughout pattern).  Working in back loops only, hdc in each  
            hdc.
Row 3: Ch 2, turn.  hdc in next 20 st, ch 5, sk next 5 st, hdc in remainder of row.
Row 4: Ch 2, turn.  hdc in each st.
Row 5: Ch 2, turn, hdc in each st.

EDGING: ch 3, join with sl st at base of ch (picot made).  3 sl st along edge, picot, 3 sl st around scarf.  Finish off.


NOTE: The pink version pictured here is modified for better staying power.  I found that a single keyhole isn't necessarily enough to keep the scarf on an active child, so I worked the scarf with 2 keyholes.  It is widened to 8 rows, with keyholes placed in the 3rd and 6th rows.  The keyholes are still 5ch wide.  The woven look is attractive, and the scarf stays in place much better.

This pattern is easily modified for length and width.  For one keyhole, ensure that you work an odd number of rows, and place the keyhole in the center row. For two keyholes, simply ensure that the two holes are evenly spaced. The width and placement of the keyhole may be need to be modified as the size of the scarf is changed.