Beginners Scarf

 I have just started giving crochet lessons to a friend, and I find that I am largely underwhelmed by the kinds of projects found in beginner pattern books.  They're boxy and clunky, and I don't think beginners should be stuck with square animals, ill-fitting garments, or useless decor just because they're still learning.

I aspire to write several beginner's patterns for my friend.  They will be designed to take shape easily, to teach how to see the parts of stitches, to progress quickly, to make mistakes easy to see, to build skill, and to help people new to the craft understand how the same 5 stitches can work together to create so many different kinds of structures.  They'll also be cute and useful. (See my previous post for tips for beginners.)

This is the first pattern.  After working an admittedly useless swatch of sc and dc in boring straight rows, she will move on to this--a scarf for her first grade daughter.

A small swatch from this pattern.  Obviously, a scarf would be longer. 

Yarn: worsted weight acrylic
Hook: H or I (check the yarn)
Gauge: not important for this project

Abbreviations:
ch   chain                                
sc   single crochet
dc   double crochet

Ch 18.
Row 1: Insert hook in 2nd ch from hook. sc in each ch across. (17 sc)
Row 2: Ch 1, turn.  sc in each sc across (17 sc)
Row 3: Ch 1, turn.  sc in each sc across (17 sc)
Row 4: Ch 3, turn. (counts as first dc, so don't work into the first stitch!) dc in each of the next 2 sc. *ch 1,    skip next sc, dc in next sc* 6 times, dc in each of the next 2 sc.
Row 5: ch 3, turn. (counts as first dc, so don't work into the first stitch!) dc in each of the next 2 dc. *ch 1,                   dc in the next dc* 6 times, dc in each of the next 2 dc.

Repeat Row 5 until scarf is desired length.  After you've reached the length that is appropriate for your person:

Row ?: ch 1, turn.  sc in first dc and in each of the next 2 dc.  *sc into ch 1 space, sc into next dc* 6 times, dc in each of the next 2 dc.
Row ?2: ch 1, turn.  sc in each sc across.  (17sc)
Row ?3: ch 1, turn.  sc in each sc across. (17 sc)
Finish off.

On Reading the Pattern

• When you see *...* in a pattern, it means you will be doing the same thing over and over a few times. In this pattern, you repeat what is between the *...* 6 times.
• When you are working in dc, your turning chain counts as your first dc.  In order to keep the right number if stitches in the row, you need to skip the first stitch in the row below.
• When you are working in sc, the turning chain is there just to give you leverage.  You WILL work into the first stitch of the row below when you are working in sc.

Tips for Beginners

I have just started teaching my friend how to crochet.  As a result of 2 lessons, I present to you, Interwebs, the following tips:


My Tips for Beginners


Tips on Yarn

• Use worsted weight or larger yarn for beginning projects; it is easier to see the stitches.
• If appropriate, use a larger hook than the yarn calls for; it's easier to see the stitches.
• Use a light-colored yarn; it is easier to see the stitches.
• If you want multi-colored yarn, go with a style that gradually transitions from one color to the next rather than one that mixes colors in twists.  It's easier to see the stitches.
• Avoid those fun textured yarns like Homespun, Boucle, or Eyelash.  You'll NEVER find your stitches in all that yarn

[Have you worked out the running theme yet?  When you're beginning, you need to be able to see your stitches!]

• Cotton is hard to work with.  Find a simple acrylic that feels nice. Begin with cheap yarn, but not one that makes your skin feel like it belongs on an alien.
• As your patterns progress in difficulty, keep a skein of v. v. cheap crappy yarn on hand.  Work the pattern until you understand it, and then begin working in your real yarn.  That way you don't learn on your real yarn. (see the first point below)

Tips on Learning

• Know you are going to mess up.  This does not mean you can't learn, and it doesn't mean you're a bad person.
• Look at messing up as an opportunity to learn.  I taught myself to crochet, and I have wasted more yarn than I've used well.  Mistakes help you learn. (see points 6-7 above)
• Practice your chain stitch until it's even and tidy.  It's not all that interesting, but that stitch is the basis for all crochet. Once you figure out how to hold the yarn to make that stitch even, the rest is gravy.
• Working Row 1 into your foundation chain is the worst part of any project.  It's plain not fun.  It takes too long.  But work Row 1 into your foundation chain.  Because the rest of the project is awesome.
• For some, learning to read patterns is more difficult than learning stitches.  Be patient and be willing to start over a few times. (see the first point in this section)

Tips on Equipment

You don't need special gadgets.  You need a few mid-sized hooks (G-J).  You need some yarn.  You need a yarn needle.  Be ready to improvise the rest.  Use your kid's math ruler to check gauge.  Use paper clips or small pieces of yarn as stitch markers.  Use free patterns online.  Watch youtube for video tutorials.

DO have a pair of scissors dedicated to crochet (and sewing, if you sew) and don't let your kids or significant other touch them.  They are not for going to clip herbs; they are not for cutting out paper snowflakes; they are not for opening the packaging to micro SD cards--they are only for crochet (and sewing, if you sew).

My next post is a pattern for beginners who have learned (in an admittedly useless, boring swatch) ch, sc, and dc.  Let's have fun!

Chevron Cardigan

It's cold, and while I understand it would be better to work on cold-weather items before it actually gets cold, I never do.

So today I started work on this chevron cardigan. I chose it because it works up quickly, and as I said, I'm already cold.  Also, when I looked at the project pictures on ravelry, they were all pretty cute; that gives me confidence in a pattern, when it works in anyone's hands.  Also also, it says it only needs 600-800 yards of yarn, which is pretty good for a sweater.

This is the first 9 rows.  The first 5 rows increase from the neck down, and after that it's a relatively straightforward chevron pattern for the remainder of the yoke.  I'll get back to you after I have the yoke done.

Here's a stitch detail.  I got a gift card to Michael's for Christmas, and the store was duly ransacked by holiday shopping; the yarn shelves were depleted.  That meant the only sport weight yarn available was in the baby section; I was happy to find anything designed for someone over 18 mos old.  This is Bernat Softee Baby in Flannel (I don't know why it's not just called grey.)  The pattern suggests a size J/10 hook, and that is working nicely to match the gauge so far.




I am looking forward to seeing how this one takes shape.  And then to being warm.


--Update 9.8.2012 --

Sometimes I make myself laugh.  I put this sweater down for a VERY long time, and when I finally picked it back up, it took all of 3 hours to finish.  At least I'll have it for the cold months this year.

I am happy with the finished product.  My buttonhole is too wide, and the button stock at the craft store left something to be desired, so I couldn't find a big enough button that suited the color of the yarn.  The black one I have on now will do, but I will likely change it out.

In the meantime, enjoy these pictures of the finished sweater:

Add From the front.  The shoulders aren't actually all that football gear-ish.  I just have on an inappropriate undershirt. 

From the rear.  I shall be more careful to untwist my sleeves in future.

 I like the texture of this sweater a lot.

Detail of the closure and its abnormally large buttonhole.

Snowflake Doilies

This pattern is from Mypicot.  I am a big fan of their large, easy-to-follow charts.

These come out large and are better as window snowflakes than tree snowflakes.  In my case, they are intended as small doilies for my grandmother to put under her dinner candles.  She's an 88-year-old widow who still lights candles at every single dinner.

My First Necklace

I've seen the pattern for this necklace several times on Ravelry, and I really like it.  The tutorial is fantastic, and the necklace is easy to construct.  I didn't have a needle small enough to make it through the smaller seed beads, so I just used a needle threader.  It's a little slow, but it works well.  I'm pleased with the finished product.

 Some of the beads want to turn the wrong way, so blocking is important for this item.

I worked the closure with a magic ring instead of the  12ch loop in the pattern.  That way I could adjust it to fit the button I managed to find.

 The finished necklace hangs in two strands and is elegant and simple.

My version is worked in Ecru DMC Traditions Crochet Cotton in size 10 with a size 7 steel hook.  

The pattern calls for drop-shaped beads, but I couldn't find any.  These round ones worked well.


The larger beads are size 6/0 glass beads in a pearl color, and the smaller beads are size 11/0 glass seed beads that are clear with a little silver inside.

Beyond that, I used a needle threader, a button, and a needle to weave in the ends.  It's as simple to make as it is to wear.

Snowflake Extravaganza

I have this ambition to make an heirloom bedspread in thread crochet, and as a result, I am in possession of nearly 2 miles of white cotton thread and about 8 finished bedspread motifs.  (I don't anticipate finding myself with a finished bedspread any time soon; perhaps I'll finish it by the time my daughter is ready to move out of the house.)

I have used this thread to make several other things in the meantime--the dresser scarf I've already posted about, the table runner that is currently hibernating, several bookmarks and other small sundries.  Since the thread is no longer dedicated solely to bedspread construction, I now spend lots of time doing thread crochet.  My mom tells me I look very focused when I work; I think really I'm just trying to see the stitches.

At any rate, I now present for your viewing pleasure several snowflakes I've constructed for my co-workers. I found all of the patterns for free on Ravelry. I didn't get good detail shots of the ones I made for work because the camera battery died as I was rushing out the door to deliver said snowflakes.  Still, I have a group shot.

I also made snowflakes for the kiddos in my life to contribute to their growing ornament collections.   The photos below include shots before and after blocking in order to demonstrate the difference a little patience makes. Some of the ones I made for work are merely starched and pressed rather than blocked; the ones I made for the kiddos turned out much better.

Elder Niece is quite a good crocheter herself, so I went ornate.  To the left is fresh off the hook.  To the right is the pinned and stiffened finished product.  Pattern is the first one here.

Nephew is getting a pointier ornament.  The blocking process is very important in this ornament, as is clearly seen in these two shots. Find the pattern here.

My son chose the most involved snowflake to add to his collection.  The one on the left is pretty; after blocking it has a lot more structure. Here is the pattern.

Younger Niece's snowflake has more structure on its own because of the heavy outer stitches.  Blocking makes it pointier, but it doesn't change it much. It's the first pattern on this page.





Daughter's is made more elegant by blocking. It's the second pattern here.

This is my first attempt at snowflakes.  For blocking, I pinned them to a piece of cardboard covered in plastic wrap, sprayed them with heavy starch, and let them dry overnight.  They are holding their shape for now, but they aren't stiff, and I imagine they will be a little less structured as time wears on. Of course, they are washable and can be reshaped.

Next time, I'll likely make a glue and water solution, soak and pin them, and let them dry.  I think they will be more durable that way.

One last shot of a snowflake under construction.

Just a Small Detail

National Novel Writing Month is over, and I should be making fast progress on this table runner.  Alas!  Alack!  I've lost my steel hook!