Monday, September 24, 2012

Shell Stitches 01001 and 10010

Moving on to the next pair of stitches in the series: we have stitches 01001 (blue) and 10010 (green).  Both stitches are easy to work, and give a lacy look.  I prefer the blue version (01001) because the edges are more in line with the rest of the work.  I was actually surprised by how much I like this stitch.  It's lacy, but still mostly filled in.  It looks much more complicated than it actually is, but it still manages to look neat and tidy.  The green version is also pretty, but I really like the blue one.  I will probably use this stitch in the future to make scarves. 


Here are the stitch patterns:
Stitch 01001:
Chain a multiple of 6 + 5
Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, (sk 2, [dc, ch 2, dc] in next ch, ch 1, sk 2, sc) across, [dc, ch 1, dc] in last ch
Row 2: ch 1, turn, sc, ([dc, ch 2, dc] in sc, ch 1, sc in ch 2 space) across, [dc, ch 1, dc] in last sc

Repeat Row 2 for pattern

Stitch 10010:
Chain a multiple of 6 + 5
Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, (ch 1, sk 2, [dc, ch 2, dc] in next ch, sk 2, sc) across, [ch 1,  2 dc] in last ch
Row 2: ch 1, turn, sc, (ch 1, [dc, ch 2, dc] in sc, sc in ch 2 space) across, [ch 1, 2 dc] in last sc

Repeat Row 2 for pattern 

Friday, September 21, 2012

Shell Stitches 00111 and 11100

These next stitches are very reminiscent of Stitch 2 from Darla Sim's book.  There are solid vertical columns separated by diagonal chains.  Stitches 00111 (pink) and 11100 (gray) are simple to do, and look interesting.  Honestly though, I don't intend to use these stitches again because I prefer Stitch 2.  It's like an optimized version of these modified shell stitches.  If you don't have the book, then this is an option.  Of these two stitches I predictably like the 00111 (pink) version because of the solid edges.


Well, here they are:
Stitch 00111:
Chain a multiple of 6 + 5
Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, (sk 2, 3 dc in next ch, ch 2, sk 2, sc) across, 3 dc in last ch
Row 2: ch 1, turn, sc, (3 dc in sc, ch 2, sc in first dc) across, 3 dc in last sc

Repeat Row 2 for pattern

Stitch 11100:
Chain a multiple of 6 + 5
Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, (ch 2, sk 2, 3 dc in next ch, sk 2, sc) across, (ch 2, dc) in last ch
Row 2: ch 1, turn, sc, (ch 2, 3 dc in sc, sc in third dc) across, (ch 2, dc) in last sc

Repeat Row 2 for pattern

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Support Hobby Lobby!

As you probably know, Hobby Lobby stores around the country are closed on Sundays because of the religious beliefs of the owner.  One aspect of those religious beliefs is that life begins at conception, therefore abortion is wrong.  Whether you agree with him or not, those are his beliefs, and he has a First Amendment right to them. 

Now Obamacare is requiring Hobby Lobby, along with every company in the country to provide abortion inducing drugs as part of their health insurance coverage or face penalties upwards of a million dollars a day.  Hobby Lobby has decided to challenge this in court, and they are facing retaliation in the form of a boycott.  Hopefully this boycott is as successful as the one against Chick-fil-a.  Hobby Lobby makes great yarn, and they stock many other brands of great yarn.  Support Hobby Lobby and buy from them!

Here's the news story I saw about this today.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Shell Stitches 00110 and 01100

It's that time of year! Time for craft fairs!  Which means that I've been working on building up an inventory of things I think will sell.  So I've made probably 20 of the Half Lace Shawls in the past month, along with probably a dozen curly scarves.  All this means, that I haven't really made much that is post worthy recently, though I have been very productive crochet-wise.  

Anyway, I decided I needed to post again, so I took some time out and tried out the next stitches in the Modified Shell stitch series: stitch 00110 (blue) and stitch 01100 (green).  There is very little difference in the two stitches; the only notable one is that the blue one has 2 dc at the end of each row, and the green one has only 1.  Also, when working the blue stitch, sc in the first dc, and when working the green stitch, sc in the second dc.  Other than that, they're identical, and pretty easy to do.  They both have columns ascending vertically throughout the work. 


Here are the patterns:
Stitch 00110:
Chain a multiple of 6 + 5
Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, (ch 1, sk 2, 2 dc in next ch, ch 2, sk 2, sc) across, 2 dc in last ch
Row 2: ch 1, turn, sc, (ch 1, 2 dc in sc, ch 2, sc in first dc) across, 2 dc in last sc

Repeat Row 2 for pattern

Stitch 01100:
Chain a multiple of 6 + 5
Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, (ch 2, sk 2, 2 dc in next ch, ch 1, sk 2, sc) across, (ch 2, dc) in last ch
Row 2: ch 1, turn, sc, (ch 2, 2 dc in sc, ch 1, sc in second dc) across, (ch 2, dc) in last sc

Repeat Row 2 for pattern 

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Stitch 28 Shrug

This week I took another stab at making a shrug, again using Nettie's pattern as a guide.  Last time, I used the Spaced Shell Stitch for the body of the shrug and had issues because shells don't stretch well.  This time I used stitch 28 because it still looks like shells, but it has some give in it.  I'm actually very happy with how this turned out, and intend to use this stitch for shrugs in the future. 

Following the 6T size of the pattern and using my trusty J hook, it ended up being adult sized as I had intended. 

I made this with Simply Soft Celestial yarn and a J hook.

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Manly Scarf

Making anything for a guy is generally a challenge.  The art of crochet does not lend itself to masculinity, in general.  I think I've managed to make a scarf a guy would like and would actually wear.  It's a very simple pattern and would look good in a variety of color combinations.  If you look closely, you can see the long stitches running the length of the scarf.  This particular scarf is for a Cleveland Browns fan.

Color Pattern:
7 rows orange, (7 rows brown, 7 rows orange) repeated.  With 17 total blocks, the scarf measured 77" long.

Here's the pattern:
Chain 19, then work stitch 21.


I made this with I Love this Yarn in Brown and Orange with a J hook.