Summer surprises and newest knit pattern

Yesterday was the warmest day so far (heat index if 100+) so, of course, our air-conditioner decided to die.  Our little house heats up like an oven and we were all very well done.  Luckily, we were able to buy another one and my husband was able to get it in and working.  Today, I am very comfortable and very thankful.  (I think our old air-conditioner had been going for a while, judging by how much better the house feels with the new one.)

I have got my newest knit pattern back from the pattern testers and it is now for sale.  The response has been amazing and one of my biggest sellers to date.  I held an informal survey on Facebook and combined a couple of suggestions for the name and the De-Vinely Bohemian Lace Shrug was put on my Ravelry store, my Craftsy site and my Etsy shop .  This pattern has both written instructions and charts to follow.  It can be made for women's sizes small clear up to 5 X-large.  There is a shorter version for people who are shorter in stature and a longer version for taller people.  The lace edging is a vine pattern that I designed and should flatter most figures.

For people who do not enjoy knitting, I have a women size small to medium longer version in my Etsy shop.  The yarn I used is a luxury merino wool (which is so soft) and silk blend.

long lavender shrug

 

I also made a shorter version in the same size with the same luxury yarn in a different color combination.

burgundy and grey shrug

 

The main section is made using a right twist on a two stitch ribbing pattern.  Right twist are not hard and are a way to add a cable look without using a cable needle.

 

After working a knit 2, purl 2 ribbing for 4 rows, you create the right twist on the knit stitches on the 5th and 6th row.  This adds some interest to a plain rib design.

 

To work the right twist on the 5th and 6th row, when you come to the knit 2, knit the in the 2nd stitch on the needle, without taking it off the needle.

 

 

 

Next knit the first stitch. 

 

Finally, you take both stitches off the needle and you will see you have a pretty little twist in your rib.

This stitch adds some interest in the design without taking out the stretch and shrinking of the rib so that the garment fits your particular body shape.

 

I want to thank everyone who has bought this pattern from an independent designer which is what encourages us to design more.

 

I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer and  staying comfortable in the warm summer temperatures.  I am going to be crocheting with a cotton yarn tonight next to my new air-conditioner.  What do you like to do in the summer heat? 



 

 

  

 

 

catching up and a Front Post dc and Back Post dc tutorial

It has been a very busy summer.  We went to see our granddaughter's 1st birthday which is 1600 miles away.  What a blast it was.  Then we went to the Colorado mountains to camp, which is always so inspiring for my work.  Something about going into wilderness areas that show God's amazing creations. There are so many birds, flowers and wildlife.  Here is a picture of of the area that we camped at.

 



After all the trips I thought I would do some picture tutorials on different ways to crochet.  Did you know you can crochet not just in the hole that is made by the stitch but also in the Front loop and back loop on top the crochet hole?   Front Loop and Back Loop work is done in the loops on the top of the crochet.  Every crochet stitch has two loops on top of the work weather it is sc, hdc, dc, tr, etc.

 

This particular stitch is great for adding a second layer or can be used to make a line design in the crochet such as the tail of my mermaid pattern.  By working in the front loop and back loop depending on the side being worked brings out the shell pattern.  These are common stitches that are used.

 



 

Today, I am doing a picture tutorial on how to make Front Post dc & Back Post dc since these stitches will be in the newest pattern I am designing. All my patterns include picture tutorials on unusual stitches so that any one can do them even if they don't know that particular stitch.

Again every crochet stitch has a post underneath the crochet hole that is usually worked.  The post is the main body of the stitch and is below the hole that is usually used.  In dc the post is rather long and easy to show so I will use it to for a picture tutorial.  Just know that even sc have post under the hole and this stitch can be done in them as well.

To make a front post dc (FPdc), instead of inserting the hook into the hole of the next stitch, insert the hook from the front, around the post of the stitch in the row below.  Bring it back out to the front of the work and make a double crochet stitch.

 



 



 



If starting the row with Front Post or Back Post work the turning ch should be a little shorter since the dc are actually worked in the row below and the resulting row will be a little shorter that a normal crochet row.

 

Back Post work is done by inserting the hook in the post below going from the back of the post, around the post and come out on the back side. 

 

 

 

 





 

Here is a picture of both the FPdc and BPdc worked alternately.  It produces a fantastic texture and can make a wonderful woven stitch pattern.

 



Here is a link to a Craftsy blog which uses this stitch to make a woven pattern. Crochet Basket weave Stitch  If you have not joined Craftsy.com, I would encourage you to join.  It is free and there is so much to learn.

 

I hope everyone else had as great a summer as I did.  What are some of your favorite stitches to crochet? 

A little boutonniere for a little groom

I love designing my different characters for wall hangings and bookmarks.  I make them out of thread crochet using a size 1 (2.25mm) hook.  This is a larger hook then is usually used for thread but I need that size to get the gauge I need. ( I am also hoping it will encourage yarn users to try thread.)

One of the challenges as a designer is to make everything on a very minature scale.  Since it is already done in thread the character is very "minaturized" already.  When I had finished this particular character which was a groom, one of my pattern testers suggested that he needed a little color and wouldn't it be wonderful if he had a boutonniere.  I agreed.  Now the challenge was to design a really tiny flower.

The color, of course was based on the bride's colors.  The smallest flower I had on the bride was on her headband, so I started with that.

I tried that on the groom's lapel and it was still too large.  After trying several different ideas, I just couldn't come up with anything that tiny.  So I went to a smaller hook.  I don't like switching hooks in mid-pattern but that was the only way to get it small enough to fit the groom.  So I added a new hook size to the pattern for this particular part.

I love my thread crochet pattern tester.   We communicate by e-mail as she lives in a different state.  Her name is Carol Henderson and she does an excellent job of finding mistakes and helping me come up with ideas.  She is an accomplished thread artist and she wanted to make a rose bud.

She came up with a rose bud design without changing hook sizes that I loved and sent me this wonderful picture tutorial to add to the pattern.

 Thank you Carol.  The pattern includes written instructions that follow these steps.

 

The steps start with a magic circle so that there is no hole to deal with.  The magic circle is a wonderful technique.  It starts with a slip knot that is not tightened until the end.  In fact the work is done in the circle that will become the knot.  Here is how it is done.

The start of a slip knot starts like this.  Do not tighten but grab a loop from the long end and bring it in through the circle.

Make a single crochet and start making your stitches into this circle.



When all the stitches are completed, the short end is pulled tight and now there is no opening.

I love how her rose bud came out and it is now, with her kind permission, part of the pattern.

 

This is just one of the many, many challenges that come with designing any knit or crochet pattern.  I am really thankful for my wonderful pattern testers who help make my patterns great.  Here is a picture of the groom with my flower and smaller hook but the pattern gives you either option in making the boutonniere.







This just proves that two heads are definately better than one.  I love how he came out.  What do you think?

Bride bookmark and Solomon's Knot tutorial

It has been a while but with vacations and some home repairs, I haven't been able to work on the computer much.  Luckily, it doesn't mean I haven't been designing.  I love knit or crochet because I can take with me.

I am currently designing a bride bookmark.  This is part of a commission wall hanging.  I love how she came out.

 

I decided to give her an overskirt on her dress of Solomon's knot or Love knot lace because of its fantastically lacey look.  So I thought I would do a picture tuturial of this particular stitch.

 

To start,  pull up a loop.  My pattern calls for a loop that is 1/4 inch long.  (Most patterns will tell you how long a loop is required for their pattern.)  

 

Yarn over and pull a loop through.

 

  Now comes the "tricky" part.  Sc in back strand of the long lp created by pulling a loop through above.

 

Below is a completed Solomon's knot or Love knot.

 







 Generally, a pattern has you make several on top of  each other as shown below. 

Future rows are generally worked in the sc stitch on top of the knot.  The stitch is not a hard one just a little confusing if you have not run into it before.

Here is a back view of the overskirt to show how neat this stitch works up.

I love how it came out. 

I think crochet and knitting are wonderful.  They are so mobile that they can be taken on 16 hour drives to see the children and the work isn't put on hold until we return.  What do you like about these arts?