Monday, January 30, 2017

Wintersong is LIVE!



Hello all! Just a quick post to announce that the pattern for my Wintersong Headband is now live, and available in both my Ravelry and Craftsy stores!

This is a quick-to-make, one-skein project using bulky weight yarn. The original sample (pictured above) uses about half a skein of Berocco Vintage Chunky yarn, which is an acrylic/wool blend - but you can use whichever bulky-weight yarn you wish!

Like all of my paid patterns, this one includes both full written instructions and a chart. You don't have to know how to read a crochet chart to make this pattern, but if your preference is to work from a chart instead of written directions, you'll be able to make this, too!

Here's the Ravelry listing: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/wintersong-headband
And the Craftsy listing: https://www.craftsy.com/crocheting/patterns/wintersong-headband/476552

Autumn Cowl

Hey look at this...another free pattern! Really. Why? Because I designed it at the same time as the Autumn Beanie, and since I made that one available for free, I figured I could share this one, too.
Also, both the cowl and the hat together use less than a skein of Dream in Color Classy, so you get two projects from one skein. Pretty nice, don't you think?



Autumn Cowl
by Katherine Larson

Finished size: 20.5 in / 52 cm circumference, 3 in / 7.5 cm tall
Skills needed: Foundation single crochet, chain, single crochet, double crochet

Materials:
Yarn: Dream In Color Classy (4oz/113g, 250yds/229m, 100% superwash merino wool), 1 skein or
50g, 100yds/92m worsted weight yarn 
Tools: H/5mm crochet hook or size needed to meet gauge
Tapestry needle

Gauge: 14 sts and 8 rows = 4”/10mm in body pattern

Notes: The cowl is worked continuously in the round. 

Abbreviations:
Fsc – Foundation single crochet
Ch – Chain
Sc – Single crochet
Dc – Double crochet

Sl st – slip stitch
V-st – Dc, ch 1, dc in same st.

Cowl

Fsc 72. Join with sl st to work in round.

Rnd 1: Ch 4 (counts as dc, ch 1 here and throughout), dc in same st, skip 2 sts, 3 dc in next st, skip 2 sts, *V-st in next st, skip 2 sts, 3 dc in next st, skip 2 sts, repeat from * around, join with sl st to beginning dc.

Rnd 2: Sl st to ch-1 sp, ch 3 (counts as dc here and throughout), 2 dc in same sp, skip 2 sts, V-st in next st, skip 2 sts, *3 dc in next st, skip 2 sts, V-st in next st, skip 2 sts, repeat from * around, join with sl st to beginning dc.

Repeat rnd 1 and 2 once, then repeat rnd 1.

Rnd 6: Ch1, sc in same st, sc in each st around, join with sl st to beginning sc.


Fasten off and weave in ends.

Tuesday, January 10, 2017

January Blues and a Pattern Tease

Well, I didn't think it was possible, but I've managed to ruin a batch of Rice Krispy Treats. Apparently, if you melt the butter and marshmallows at too high heat, they caramelize a bit and you wind up with rock-hard treats that do not want to be cut into smaller bars. It was my first time making these on our new range, and I guess the front burners really do burn hotter than the back ones. Whoops.
The good news is, 4-year-olds don't mind the giant-crisped-rice-marshmallow-brick, they just see an excuse to gnaw on a massive block of sugary goodness.

So it's mid-January, the holidays are behind us, the rest of winter still to come...so I decided it's time to roll out another pattern.


Is my nose really that long?  Maybe it's the angle. Tim was my photographer - he grouses about it, but he does a pretty decent job.

I'm calling this one Wintersong. It's in testing, right now. And it will be released before the end of the month, if all goes according to plan!

Monday, January 9, 2017

Autumn Beanie

So, I've been thinking about what to do with this awesome hat pattern:

It was originally created for the book, Crochet One-Skein Wonders for Babies. And I meant to create a larger version for adults, with the idea that it would be a Parent-and-me kind of pattern.
But the numbers just don't work out, at least not in the same gauge. I could change to a DK or sportweight yarn, But I happen to like the way it looks in worsted weight. See? I made one in blue, too:
Ok, Grant didn't want his picture taken. Here's what it really looks like:

So, anyway, it was just Christmas and maybe someone put a skein of that really yummy hand-dyed wool in your stocking, and you don't know what to do with it but you're itching to make something lacy and warm at the same time, or maybe it's 6 months from now and you're looking to make a new hat for that adorable toddler in your life. Here's the pattern for this awesome little hat! I'm going to make it available for free, here on this blog.

Without further ado:


Autumn Beanie
by Katherine Larson

Finished size: 16"/40.5cm circumference (unstretched), 6.5"/16.5cm tall
Skills needed: Foundation single crochet, chain, single crochet, double crochet

Materials:
Yarn: Dream In Color Classy (4oz/113g, 250yds/229m, 100% superwash merino wool), 1 skein or
50g, 100yds/92m worsted weight yarn 
Tools: H/5mm crochet hook or size needed to meet gauge
Tapestry needle

Gauge: 14 sts and 8 rows = 4”/10mm in body pattern

Pattern notes: Brim is crocheted in one long strip, then seamed. The body is then worked from the brim up.

Abbreviations:
Fsc – Foundation single crochet
Ch – Chain
Sc – Single crochet
Sc blo – Single crochet through back loop only
Dc – Double crochet
Sl st – slip stitch
V-st – Dc, ch 1, dc in same st.

Brim:

Fsc 9.

Row 1: Ch 1, turn. Sc blo across.

Repeat row 1 (62) more times, for a total of 64 rows. Turn work and fold so last row worked aligns with foundation row. Working through the back loops of the last row worked, and the front loops of the foundation row, sl st together. Do not fasten off.

Body:

Rnd 1: Turn work 90 degrees, ch 3(counts as dc here and throughout), 2 dc in same space, sk 3 rows, *V-st in next row, skip 2 rows, *3 dc in next row skip 2 rows, repeat from * around, join with sl st to top of beginning ch3 (9 shells and 9 V-sts)

Rnd 2: Sl st in next st, ch 4 (counts as dc, ch 1 here and throughout), dc in same st, skip 2 sts, 3 dc in ch-1 sp, skip 2 sts, *V-st in next st, skip 2 sts, 3 dc in ch-1 sp, repeat from * around, join with sl st in beginning dc.

Rnd 3: Sl st to ch-1 sp, ch 3 (counts as dc here and throughout), 2 dc in same sp, skip 2 sts, V-st in next st, skip 2 sts, *3 dc in ch-1 sp, skip 2 sts, V-st in next st, repeat from * around, join with sl st in 3rd ch of ch4.

Repeat rnds 2 and 3, then repeat rnd 2 once more.

Rnd 7: Sl st in next ch 2 sp, ch3, dc in same sp, skip 2 sts, *2 dc in next st, skip 2 sts, 2 dc in ch-1 sp, skip 2 sts, repeat from * around, join with sl st in beginning dc. (36 dc)

Rnd 8: Ch 3, dc in same sp, skip 2 sts, *2 dc in next st, skip 2 sts, repeat from * around, join with sl st in beginning dc. (24 dc)

Rnd 9: Ch 3, dc in same sp, skip 2 sts, *2 dc in next st, skip 2 sts, repeat from * around, join with sl st in beginning dc. (16 dc)

Rnd 10: Ch 3, 2 dc in next st, skip 2 sts, *2 dc in next st, skip 2 sts, repeat from * around, dc, join with sl st in beginning dc. (11 dc)

Rnd 11: Sl st in 3rd, 5th, and 7th sts, sl st in beginning st and draw closed.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Have you made this? Did you like it? Let me know! And if you'd like to make a project page on Ravelry, here's the place to do so!