Blitz - Chillbuster Scarf

This is actually my first scarf.



I've seen designs for scarves with a split to put the end through around, but haven't seen a pattern for one yet. So I made one up.

The yarn used is Bernat Softee Chunky in Terra Cotta Mist. 100% acrylic; machine wash and dry. The colours are actually a lot brighter in the photo than it is in reality - that bright sunshine really brings the colours out. It's really soft and warm.

The hook I used was a 5.50mm

This pattern would be very easy to modify. I chose to put in 2 slits, but it can be made with just one on one side, or none at all.

Using the Softee Chunky yarn (2 balls) and 5.50mm hook, this is how I made this scarf.

Chain 160 + 2

1st row: working into the BACK of the chain, work 1dc into the 3rd loop from the hook. Do not count turning chain here and throughout. Continue working dc into the back of each chain to end. Ch 2 and turn.

Remaining rows are worked in back loops only.

2nd row: work dc into each stitch to end. Ch 2 and turn

repeat for rows 3 and 4 if making a split scarf. If skipping the splits, repeat to desired width and finish off.

* (see note below) Count 30 dc from the end. Place a marker in the 31st stitch. Counting the marked stitch, count 18 dc and place a marker on the 18th stitch. Repeat on other end.

5th row: Work dc into the first 30 stitches, stopping just before the marker. Ch 18. Continue dc after second marker to skip 18 stitches. Dc to stitch before next marker. Ch 18. Continue dc from stitch after last marker to end. Ch 2 and turn (don't forget that the dc are still all worked in the back loop)

6th row: Dc to end. At the chains, dc into the chain, not around. Ch 2 at end and turn.

repeat row 2 for rows 7-9.

Finish off yarn and weave in loose ends.





*NOTE: determining where to make the splits.

Work up the scarf until it is half the width you want it to be, ending on an even numbered row.

Find the centre of the scarf in progress. Put it around your neck with the centre placed in the middle of the back of your neck, ensuring the working row is at the top. Cross the ends comfortably in front of your neck. Place a stitch marker in a stitch close to where they cross near your neck.

How wide to make the split is determined by width of the scarf, which needs to be an odd number of rows. The centre row must be an odd number, so that the width is the same on either side. Each row of dc = 2 chs and 2 stitches skipped in the split. Therefore a scarf that's 9 rows wide like this one, needs a split that's 18 stitches wide.

One you have determined the number of stitches you need to skip, count them out from the marker towards the end and place another marker. The markers need to be in the first and last skipped stitches.

If are making just one split, you can continue on from there. For two splits, place matching markers along the opposite end of the row, adjusting as needed to ensure they are equally spaced.

Continue working as for 5th row.

Blitz - Can Cozies

I have made a lot of these in various shapes and sizes, including variations for small, handle-less teacups. Those do double duty - they insulate the cup, keeping the tea hot longer, and prevent burning your fingers when handling it.

I made these three in one evening.



As you can see, they're not just for pop cans, even though they're all the same size. :-D




These can be made in any material you'd like, but my preferance is for Bernat Handicrafter Cotton Ultrasoft, which is often marketed as dishcloth yarn. It's 100% cotton and machine washable and dryable. Though the label recommends a 4.5mm hook, for these I use a 3.5mm hook. This makes them better able to hold their shape when they're empty.

For a cooler that fits an ordinary pop can, using the yarn and hook size I did, this is how.

Start with 8sc into a magic ring. DO NOT JOIN. The rounds are worked in a spiral.

Increase each consecutive round to make a flat disc as big as the bottom of a pop can. For these, that worked out to 16sc, 24sc , 32sc, 40sc in each consecutive round.

After this, you can just keep working 40sc rounds, but I like to do the first side round in the back loop of the last disc round. You can see that round in the second photo. I find this gives a more defined crease between the base and side rounds. Either way, just keep going until the cozie is the height you want it to be. Feel free to change colours and add texture stitches as desired. As you work up the height, put a can (or whatever you're making the cozie for) into it every now and then to check height and fit.

If you find that the fit is a bit snug, making it hard to put the can into the cozie, try doing 1sc, 3ch, 1sc in one stitch, evenly spaced around the top of the cozie. It gives a slightly fancier looking cozie, but it also flares out the top row enough to make it easier to put a can in, while still keeping the rest of the cozie snug enough not to fall off too easily when the can it picked up.

The first one of these I did was the dark blue with light blue stripes and textured stitches. I was just playing around as I worked. I got positive responses from the family over it, but my personal preference is for simpler designs, so for the others, I stuck to the basics.

Blitz - Skully

Catching up on the last few days of my blitz. First, what is basically a crochet version of a toque (or tuque)





Pattern: Skully
From: Get Your Crochet On: Hip Hats & Cool Caps by Afya Ibomu

Recommended yarn: worsted weight
Yarn used: Bernat Satin.
Hook: 3.75mm

Changes made: added an extra round to close up the top.

This hat, and several other projects in the book, uses the same shaping/sizing technique Mary Jane Hall puts to such good use in clothing in Crochet That Fits. After working the rows and seaming it into a tube, the top is closed up with reducing rounds of hdc. The instructions said 2 rounds, but I found that still left a rather large opening, so I did one more reducing round, then wove the tail end through to close it up tight.

The hat is light and comfortable, but took far longer to make than I wanted for my blitz. If I do it again, and I most likely will, I'll use a chunky yarn and larger hook.

Blitz - filigree choker with matching earrings

This project pattern was for just the choker. I modified a portion of the pattern to make the earrings.

First, a couple of views of the choker.





For the clasp, I stole a dragonfly toggle clasp from my older daughter's jewelry findings stash.



I like it better than the button used in the book's sample.

Before I go on to the earrings, here's the details on the choker.

Pattern: Filigree lace choker
From: Easy Crocheted Accessories: 30+ fun and fashionable projects by Carol Meldrum

Recommended yarn: light-weight yarn (80% viscose, 20% polyester) in gold.
Yarn used: Phildar's Sunset, 65% viscose, 35% polyester.
Hook size recommended: D (3mm)
Hook size used: 2.55mm steel thread crochet hook
Other recommended: medium button for closure
Use: decorative toggle clasp

Changes made: Because of the smaller hook size I used, I lengthened the foundation chain by 1 extra pattern repeat. It still ended up a bit short, and only fits my 13 yr old daughter.

The pattern in the book is made up of a foundation chain and two rows. The first row is a bit weird in that the pattern repeat involves doing a number of sc into the foundation chain, then ch a loop that gets worked into the first of these sc. That loop is then wrapped in sc, with a 5 chain loop in the middle of it, before getting back to the foundation chain, where it's repeated to the end. The second row involved dc with picots into each of the 5 ch loops and triple stitches in between. What I found was that the whole thing looked rather scraggly at the foundation chain, so rather than ending off with a button loop clasp, I worked in a bit of length and crocheted in one end of the toggle clasp, then did a row of sc along the top of the choker. I found this gave the choker more body, and it actually looked more like the sample in the photo. At the end of this extra row of sc, I added the opposite piece of the toggle clasp the same way I did at the other end. I did 2 ch, took the loop of the hook and threaded it through the clasp, put the loop back on the hook, did 2 more ch, then slip stitched back to the body of the choker.

I was happy enough with the results that I decided to work up matching earrings.



The hooks were also from my daughter's stash. ;-)

I made the earrings by chaining 2, then working 24 sc into the second ch from the hook, with a 5 ch loop after every 6 sc. I added the earring hook to one of the 5 ch loops the same way I attached the toggle clasps. For the second round, I did 2 ch, then [1 dc, 1 picot] 3 times into the 5 ch space, added 1 more dc, then repeated for the other two 5 ch loops. Another 2 ch, then I slip stitched into the base of the loop the hook was attached to.

To finish the earrings, I used a sharp needle to weave the first end into the ring, gently pulling it snug so that there were no gaps in between the stitches. For the second yarn end, I wove it into the ring in the opposite direction, so that it wouldn't end up looking lopsided. It still isn't a perfect circle, but that's ok. I'd debated using an actual ring of plastic or metal as a from for the first round of sc. It might have worked out tidier, but they would also have been heavier. These are so light, it's almost as if they're not there.

I think, if I did this again, I'd find a different yarn. This stuff is a pain to work with. *L*

I did finish a new project today - another hat - but I haven't taken photos of it yet. That will be in my next post.

Blitz - Lovely Lid

Here's the next cap I finished on the first day of my crochet blitz.



Pattern: Lovely Lid
Designed by Denise Black

Pattern from: 24 Hour Crochet Projects by Rita Weiss
Yarn recommended: bulky brushed mohair type yarn - Lion Brand Jiffy
Yarn used: Bernat Harmony (bulky) in silk green
Hook: K (6.50mm)

Changes made: just the different yarn; no changes to the pattern.

A little more complex, this pattern is still done in all dc. It starts out with regular dc stitches, then crossed dc, and finally, alternating front and back post dc for the "cuff."

This one took a bit longer - about 2 hours - and is a real hit with the girls. I'm going to have to make more for ourselves. The yarn is wonderfully soft, light and warm. Perfect for those Manitoba winters. It's an acrylic that's washable and dryable in warm water.

Blitz - Biker's "Beret"

For the next while, I'm shooting for crocheting at least one project a day as gifts. I picked up a bunch of pattern books a couple of days ago and did two on that first night. Here's the first one I did.



Biker's "Beret"
designed by Denise Black

Pattern from: 24 Hour Crochet Projects by Rita Weiss
Yarn recommended: worsted weight, Red Heart Super Saver
Yarn used: some easy care worsted weight acrylic in bulk sizes balls from Walmart in purple. The label disappeared after my younger daughter re-balled the yarn, but it might actually be Red Heart. I don't remember.
Hook: I (5.50mm)

Changes made: added an extra row of dc

This pattern is about as simple as they come - just rounds of dc. The original pattern called for 11 rounds of dc, followed by a round of sc. I tried it on before doing the sc round, and it seemed a touch too short, so I added one more round before finishing it off.

Quick to make up - about an hour - and comfortably snug. This cap will be perfect for cooler days, and with the machine wash and dry acrylic, there's no need to be fussy about it.

An item a day blitz

It's been a while since I've posted, but the time hasn't been wasted. I've slowed down on the last two projects I wrote about in favour of a rash of crocheting.

Since we're finally going out to visit our families over the Thanksgiving Weekend (for my readers outside of Canada, that's the second Monday of October), I've decided to make gifts for everyone. That translates into about 20 items. I've got one larger item - a blanket done in chunky yarn and a 9mm hook to work up quickly - about half way done.

For the rest, my goal is to finish a project a day. I've got a stack of pattern books for quick projects I picked up on Wednesday. That night, I worked up two hats. Last night, I made a choker with matching earrings. I'm hoping to get my kids to model them for photos later today so I can start posting them.

Because these are so quick, I won't be posting the step-by-step process in photos, but I will detail where I got the patterns from, any changes made, etc. with each photo.

I may not be able to post a photo every night, but I am shooting to get some up at least every 2 or three days.

Wish me luck! *L*