Hello! Today we are crocheting a swatch. I do this with all new yarns to see how they behave. I will be using Lion Brand Vanna Solid in Aqua and a J Hook. It's a great way to see what hook you want to use, how a yarn washes up, and a way to compare it to other yarns that you have also swatched. I find it very relaxing, too. So grab a hook and some yarn and let's have fun!
If you are swatching:
sock or fingering weight yarn use a D hook
dk or sport weight yarn use a F hook
worsted or aran use a J hook
super bulky would need a N hook and perhaps cute the stitches in half.
So...about the Lion Brand Vanna's Choice. I feel silly even reviewing this yarn. It feels like such a standard yarn. It is really what I gauge other yarns against. But, in the name of science I will move on with this!
I hope that you enjoy. :) Please like and subscribe.
The weight is a Size 3/Light.
It is machine washable and low heat dryable.
They suggest an H hook but I swatched with an F hook as I always do with DK and sport weight yarns.
Long story short! Personally, I like the yarn.
It is a bit stretchy so I had to go up one hook size for my chain then went down to the F hook for the rest of my stitches. Otherwise, it would pucker a bit at the base. After going up the hook size it was just right.
The finish is shiny and super soft. It is not splitty. I split the yarn two times but it left no wounds and that is really good since I used a hook two sizes smaller than suggested. There is a slight squeak factor but I had no issue. If you do I would suggest a wooden or brush nickel finished hook like these.
The packaging was super cute and very convenient to work with. It came in a ball! I have never gotten yarn in a ball. I love it!
I went ahead and made a video discussing it in depth...come see if you are interested.
Is there anything else you would like to know about this yarn? Feel free to ask!
I have been loving the Fiber Friends tags on youtubes yarn community. We are meeting husbands, boyfriends and kids. I decided to go with my husband. He is always a good sport. So grab a warm drink of something and a project and lets hang out!
I was recently at the Groovy Coop in McKinney. A magical place filled with retro decor. Vintage Pyrex. Furniture from the 60's. Decanturs. Linens. And oh my, the wall art! And there was a big pile of vintage crocheted afghans. That is when I saw this gem. I immediately asked Amber to take my picture with it.
The blanket was only $28 but I just knew I had to make it. When I got home I tried to find the pattern. No luck. I looked and looked and could not find it so I sat down to recreate it. It took a few tries but here it is! I want to share it with you guys! So here goes!
Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver in two complementary colors. MC (turquoise) and CC (white) Hook: Additional Materials: Size: Notes: The Chain 2 and Chain 3 at the beginning of the row does count as the first stitch in this pattern. Sue Pinner Multiwrap Magic Circle. Sue Pinner might not have invented this but she is where I learned it and her blog and patterns are so wonderful that I just have to give her credit. Wrap the yarn around one finger about five times and then proceed to work into these strands as you would into a magic circle. You only wrap around one finger because it does not cinch closed as much as a typical magic circle. If you wrap around more than one finger it will be too big of a center gap. This adds a little bulk, strength and structure to the eye of a granny square. 3dc cluster: Yarn over, insert hook into chain space, draw up a loop, yarn over and pull under two of the loops on the hook. Repeat all twice more. Yarn over and pull under all 4 loops on the hook. 4dc cluster: Yarn over, insert hook into chain space and draw up a loop, yarn over and pull under two of the loops on the hook. Repeat all three times more. Yarn over and pull under all 5 loops on the hook. Abbreviations: ch - chain sc - single crochet hdc - half double crochet dc - double crochet ss - slip stitch fo - fasten off Pattern: 1) In MC. In a "Sue Pinner Magic Circle" ch 2 and 15 dc into the center of the circle, ss into the second ch of the ch 2 at the beginning of this row. Cinch your magic circle.
2) Ch 3 (counts as first dc + ch1) *dc + ch1* around 15 times, ss into the second ch of ch 3. fo (a circle with 16 spokes and 16 chains)
3) Attach CC into any ch 1 space, ch 3 and 3dc cluster in the same stitch. *ch2 4dc cluster in each space around (16 clusters and 16 chains 2 spaces) fo CC.
4) Skip over all clusters and work in the ch 2 spaces only. Attach MC into any ch2 space. ch 2 + 2dc in the same stitch, 3 dc in each of the next 2 spaces, 3dc + ch 2 + 3dc in next space to form a corner, *3 dc in each of the next 3 spaces, 3dc + ch 2 + 3dc in next ch space* repeat * to * all the way around. fo (60 double crochet stitches and 8 chains)
5) Attach CC into any corner, ch 2 + dc +dc + hdc into the same stitch. dc into each of the 15 stitches *hdc + dc dc + hdc in the corner, dc into each of the next 15 stitches* repeat to the end of the row. ss fo.
Hi guys! I just posted a video making heart shaped pompoms TWO ways. The easy way, winding the yarn around my hand and shaping it after the fact. And the more labor intensive way...the Clover Heart Shaped Pompom Maker. Both, were cute...which do you prefer?
I hope that you enjoy watching and making along. This is my very first video tutorial. It took me forever because I just had no grasp of my desired outcome when I first began. I am sure that my video tutorials will evolve and that I will someday look back lovingly on this one as my first.
With Love,
Melody
This blog post contains affiliate links and I might be compensated financially if you choose to click on them. Thank you so much for your support. I really appreciate it!
Happy New Years Eve! What better way to end the year then by looking forward to next years dream crochet? Today I am talking about knitting and crochet goals for 2018. I go over the two itty bitty works in progress that I started while I was supposed to be finishing my test knit (I DID end up finishing it that night!)
Cactus Hat
Spring Green Red Heart Super Saver. 41 Stitches tall on a J Hook. More info will be available on sizing when it is complete. :)
Thank you so much to Twinkie Chan for the inspiration. It brought a great smile to my face on Christmas morning.
Fortune's Shawlette by Tamara Kelly of Moogly.com
J sized Bamboo Hook
Dream In Color Smooshy with Cashmere in Carousel
#Oneskeinwonderlandcal with Crochet Circle Podcast Ravelry Project Page
My Crochet Cozy Memories Blanket is at 91 Squares as of today!
Here is a link to my ravelry project page!
Here is a link to my post on my #makenine2018. I go over all of the patterns that I just HAVE to make. There is a link to my ravelry project page where I am keeping the raverly pattern pages. And if you look below the picture in the blog post I have liked to the designers blog posts on their patterns. Both are so valuable to me when I start a project that I had to share!
The Picture is Link to my Ravelry Project Page for my #MakeNine2018 with links to all of the patterns on it that are available to me. The links below are the ones to their websites if they have any info about the patterns there. Hope the info helps!!
Granny Shorts
Lavanya Patricellis "Brioche Topped Thigh High Socks"
Hi guys! Hope you are all doing fine. Happy Holidys to you and yours. (((hugs)))
I posted a video yesterday and wanted to leave some links to what was on there and where you might find it. Just in case!
First off...the tree is real. Every year. My husband cannot fathom a fake tree. I let the family place the ornaments but I do everything else. It is one of my favorite things to do. I get so scratched up so I wouldn't want to make a career out of it. But, one tree a year and I have this permanent grin glued on my face. So, she had to be in the video!
The bear above my head is our "elf on a shelf". I crocheted him from the Amineko pattern in this adorable book. Its made from Gynx Yarns on her glitz sock base in the colorway "Naughty or Nice". Here is the project page! And here is the book:
My gloves are my own pattern and I will link when I get the pattern written digitally. For now it is chicken scratch in three places. LOL But I used Encore by Plymouth yarn, Knitters Pro Cubic wooden needles in size 5. The X-Large gloves only take 36 grams of yarn each. I am so thrilled. I really thought I was going to need two balls of yarn for a set of gloves.
Oh! The Tea!!! Red Velvet by Stash Tea is probably my favorite tea that I have found this season. I am just in love with it. I have found a few new favorites but this one I just cannot get enough of.
Their words:
Have your cake and drink it too! Rooibos combines with rich chocolate, caramel, and raspberry flavors to create the perfect cup to satisfy a sweet tooth. Pleasingly sweet with a distinctive chocolate taste and a beautiful red brew. Add a splash of milk and sugar for a creamy dessert in a cup.
My words...its smooth chocolate raspberry but heavy on the raspberry. Like jam. I add a tiny bit of stevia and a little milk. I never bring tea to bed because I have carpet right now and two dogs. Its begging for trouble. But, I have brought this to bed to drink while I crochet TWICE this week.
Thank you for the love and support that you send through the blog and the vlog. If I don't see you until after Christmas I hope yours is merry and bright and full of things that make your heart smile!
As always, this post contains with affiliate links that I profit financially from. I so appreciate when you do. I hope that they prove to be as helpful to you as the profits are to me.
There are few patterns in crochet that are more celebrated than the Virus Shawl. I have always been surprised by how many videos on youtube are devoted to teaching this pattern sequence. So today as I crochet my first virus shawl I figured we would dig deeper into the who, what, when, wear and why.
Who: Woolpedia.de which is actually Julia Marquardt
What: It's a chart for a triangle shawl. A very simple chart composed of three repeats of a four row pattern. Then you continue until you feel you are done. It is so instinctual that I did not have to look again after that third repeat. I just kept going until my yarn cake became ominously small.
When: I think that the pattern dates back to Ravelry says that it dates back about 2 years. But, I feel like I have heard about it forever and that it might have come over on the Mayflower.
Why: Because it's addictively fast and simple for something that looks fancy and complicated.
Now for MY Virus Shawl!
I used a J Hook with Lion Brand Mandala in Phoenix. I love this so much! I am so glad that I just sat myself down to make this shawl once and for all.
This has the fanciness of pineapples in half the work. I could not recommend this pattern more. I highly suggest they make it to your holiday gift crafting list.
Take care and give you a big hug!
Melody
As always I use affiliate links and benefit financially from your clicking them. Thank you SO much if you do choose to shop from them.