It is Christmas and I am sad. I am sad because someone is taking the free patterns on my blog (and the pictures too!) and selling the patterns as theirs on Ebay. Another designer was kind enough to let me and dozens of other designers know that their patterns were being sold on Ebay by this person. The auction listing claimed the patterns and photos were theirs! This person has had all their auctions removed and hopefully has now been banned from Ebay.
I've also had the misfortune to have some of my patterns
copied, modified just a bit (like only changing the decreases used), and
posted by someone else as theirs. I am sad for these people that they
feel the need to do this.
I work very hard to create
my patterns. It can require days, weeks, or months of work. It begins
with an idea and a rough sketch, then I work out how to construct it,
knit/crochet (and rip!) many versions until I get the look I want, and
finally write up the pattern, take photos, and test it to catch any
errors before it is ever offered to my readers.
Because of this, I have removed all of my free patterns from my blog. Any that are currently not available on Ravelry, will be added as free downloads as I have time to do this. You no longer have to be a member of Ravelry to download (or buy) my designs.
Here's a link to my pattern store on Ravelry. It contains both my free and for sale patterns.
Tuesday, December 25
Friday, December 21
Diamond Brook Scarf to crochet
For the pictured scarf, I used 1 ball of Patons Silk Bamboo (102 yards) in sapphire blue and a size H (5 mm) crochet hook. I blocked my scarf to open the lace. Finished size: 56" long x 5" at the widest point. Make it longer if you have second ball of yarn (or you have more yardage in the yarn you chose).
The yarn I used is rated as a DK weight. You could easily substitute a light worsted or worsted weight though you may need to go up a hook size.
This is a good project to use up those odd ball skeins of smooth textured yarn in your stash.
The three page pattern includes both written instructions and a crochet symbol chart. You can find it in my Ravelry pattern store.
All money from purchases of of this pattern will be donated to the Mercy Corp.
Have fun!
For more information, visit my Ravelry pattern store to see all my available designs, current pricing information, and purchase pattern downloads.
Saturday, December 15
Coboda Scarves, Cowl, Mitts & Hat
Coboda is an easy and fun scarf to knit for yourself or gifting. Coboda stands for Cast On, Bind Off, and Do Again! It's the kind of scarf that makes you want to start another as soon as you finish the one you are making. They are addictive!
So much so that I uses this technique to create 2 different scarves, a cowl, a pair of fingerless mitts, and a hat! LOL!
These are great projects for using up odd skeins of smooth textured worsted weight yarn in almost any fiber. No blocking needed!
You'll need size 8 needles for the scarves and cowl and size 7 for the mitts and hat. The lace edging is knit as you go. The short and long scarves start with just a few stitches, increase and work even. The long scarf then tapers back to a few stitches. I used 2 balls of Patons Bamboo Baby for the long scarf and 1 skein Lion Brand Amazing for the shorter one. The cowl was knit with a single skein of Yarn Bee Diva Sequin.
The cowl is a little more challenging. You begin with a provisional cast on. After knitting is complete, unzip the provisional cast on, remount the stitches and join the edges with a graft. I'll show you how. (Or cast on normally, bind off at end, and sew the seam if you prefer.)
The hat and mitts both start with a provisional cast on and are grafted at the end. The hat uses no-wrap short rows to form the crown. The mitts use these short rows to form the thumb gusset. The hat is very easy to resize by changing the number of stitches you cast on and the number of "wedges" that you knit. That hat and mitts were knit using 2 skeins of Wisdom Yarns Poems in sweet pea.
The Scarves/Cowl pattern are in one pattern and the Mitts/Hat pattern are offered in another pattern.
For more information, visit my Ravelry pattern store to see all my available designs, current pricing information, and purchase pattern downloads.
So much so that I uses this technique to create 2 different scarves, a cowl, a pair of fingerless mitts, and a hat! LOL!
These are great projects for using up odd skeins of smooth textured worsted weight yarn in almost any fiber. No blocking needed!
You'll need size 8 needles for the scarves and cowl and size 7 for the mitts and hat. The lace edging is knit as you go. The short and long scarves start with just a few stitches, increase and work even. The long scarf then tapers back to a few stitches. I used 2 balls of Patons Bamboo Baby for the long scarf and 1 skein Lion Brand Amazing for the shorter one. The cowl was knit with a single skein of Yarn Bee Diva Sequin.
 | |
| Long scarf - 200 yards |
 |
| Short Wrap Scarf - 147 yards |
 | |||
| Cowl - 200 yards |
 |
| Hat - 125 yards |
 |
| Fingerless mitts - 95 yards |
The cowl is a little more challenging. You begin with a provisional cast on. After knitting is complete, unzip the provisional cast on, remount the stitches and join the edges with a graft. I'll show you how. (Or cast on normally, bind off at end, and sew the seam if you prefer.)
The hat and mitts both start with a provisional cast on and are grafted at the end. The hat uses no-wrap short rows to form the crown. The mitts use these short rows to form the thumb gusset. The hat is very easy to resize by changing the number of stitches you cast on and the number of "wedges" that you knit. That hat and mitts were knit using 2 skeins of Wisdom Yarns Poems in sweet pea.
The Scarves/Cowl pattern are in one pattern and the Mitts/Hat pattern are offered in another pattern.
For more information, visit my Ravelry pattern store to see all my available designs, current pricing information, and purchase pattern downloads.
Tuesday, December 4
Nectar Cowl to crochet
You can make this with one 200 yard skein of sock yarn and a size G (4 mm) crochet hook. It is crocheted from the bottom up in a continuous spiral. My blocked cowl measured 30" around x 9" tall. I used Sensation Truly in truly purple for this sample. The pattern contains both written instructions and a crochet chart.
I blocked my cowl to open up the lace. You don't have to but your cowl will be smaller in size.
I've included instructions for making the cowl longer or wider.
Use up some of those single skeins of yarn in your stash to make this cowl. Choose a smooth textured yarn in any weight and choose a crochet hook larger than the yarn label recommends. Yarn requirements will change if you use a different weight of yarn.
The 2 page pattern can be found in my Ravelry pattern store. All money from this pattern sales will be donated to the Mercy Corp.
For more information, visit my Ravelry pattern store to see all my available designs, current pricing information, and purchase pattern downloads.
Fly Boy Baby Blanket
How about a cute baby blanket with wings to knit for a new arrival or a baby shower gift?
Fly Boy Baby Blanket is a free pattern you can download from my Ravelry pattern store. Here's a closeup of the wing motif. Knit it in a girly color and call it angel wings. :-)
I used over half of a skein of Lion Brand Pound of Love in denim blue for my baby blanket (or about 700 yards). I used a size 8 (5 mm) circular knitting needle to handle all the stitches. Finished size was 30" x 30" and it relaxed a bit more after washing.
The single page pattern includes written instructions and a chart. Have fun!
Click the link below to find the pattern in my Ravelry pattern store to download.
**PATTERN STORE LINK**
Fly Boy Baby Blanket is a free pattern you can download from my Ravelry pattern store. Here's a closeup of the wing motif. Knit it in a girly color and call it angel wings. :-)
I used over half of a skein of Lion Brand Pound of Love in denim blue for my baby blanket (or about 700 yards). I used a size 8 (5 mm) circular knitting needle to handle all the stitches. Finished size was 30" x 30" and it relaxed a bit more after washing.
The single page pattern includes written instructions and a chart. Have fun!
Click the link below to find the pattern in my Ravelry pattern store to download.
**PATTERN STORE LINK**
Crazy year
2012 has been a very crazy year for me.
The first part of the year was spent dealing with my ailing FIL. He was in and out of the hospital and nursing care facilities for months. He almost died a couple of times. Finally, he is home and doing as well as can be expected at his age. The situation has brought hubby and his brothers closer together.
Hubby and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary without any fanfare. I'm still waiting for him to take me somewhere or do something special to celebrate this milestone. Maybe next year?
After we finally got my FIL settled, my dad began having health problems. It started with an out of rhythm heart, breathing problems, and finally a diagnosis of lung cancer. He has enough serious health issues that radiation is the only option left to deal with the cancer. We are all praying that this works. Losing my dad, especially at this time of year, is something I'd rather not think about.
If that were to happen, my mom has always told me she would move in with me. Hubby and I have been thinking about this and what we would need to do to make that happen. Lots of changes and moving things around in our modest home for this to work. I'm reorganizing my studio, destashing, and trying to clear things out to make more room.
I can't muster up much holiday spirit this year. Keeping my hands busy with a crochet or knitting project is what is helping me keep my sanity.
The first part of the year was spent dealing with my ailing FIL. He was in and out of the hospital and nursing care facilities for months. He almost died a couple of times. Finally, he is home and doing as well as can be expected at his age. The situation has brought hubby and his brothers closer together.
Hubby and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary without any fanfare. I'm still waiting for him to take me somewhere or do something special to celebrate this milestone. Maybe next year?
After we finally got my FIL settled, my dad began having health problems. It started with an out of rhythm heart, breathing problems, and finally a diagnosis of lung cancer. He has enough serious health issues that radiation is the only option left to deal with the cancer. We are all praying that this works. Losing my dad, especially at this time of year, is something I'd rather not think about.
If that were to happen, my mom has always told me she would move in with me. Hubby and I have been thinking about this and what we would need to do to make that happen. Lots of changes and moving things around in our modest home for this to work. I'm reorganizing my studio, destashing, and trying to clear things out to make more room.
I can't muster up much holiday spirit this year. Keeping my hands busy with a crochet or knitting project is what is helping me keep my sanity.