I’m pleased that the scarf I’ve been crocheting is actually looking like it’s supposed to, yes I fixed my silly crochet mistakes.
In the above picture, I still had made a few errors, on the third row, but I’ve since corrected them and crocheted a few more rows. I’ll post pictures either later today, or sometime tomorrow. Sarah graciously extended the deadline for me, it’s due today, and I should be able to wrap it up once I arrive home from work today.
Ever since I purchased my set of Knit Picks Options nickel plated needles, I’ve been wanting to place a yarn order…
But I dragged my feet since I usually don’t order yarn online. When it comes to my fiber crafts, I’m a visual person, who loves touch what I’m going to purchase. Don’t worry yarn store owners, my hands are clean! Naturally, I can’t do that when making an online purchase. However I determined that I’d stop making excuses and purchase KnitPicks yarn during the month of October, sort of a 42nd birthday gift for myself.
I drug my feet a little longer, but only missed that by two days, since I finally got around to placing my order this past Friday, November 2. I’m really pleased with my restraint, many of the items I wanted to order I put into my wishlist. If I like the quality of the yarn, you know I’ll be adding items from my wish list into a future purchase.
The lovely Nicole, gifted me with a (birthday) gift certificate, and so I used part of that for Felici Tiki which will be used to make socks for my daughter! Oh by the way, Nicole has a yarnie giveaway, so check out the post! As you can see from the above screenshot, I also purchased more cables for my interchangeable needles. And I purchased a few knitting needles that will be seeing a lot of sock time, and eight skeins of yarn. Trust me, I wanted to purchase more, but I thought it would be wise to purchase a few, see how I like it before I go yarn crazy!
I might be getting this order tomorrow! Checking online tracking, I noticed my shipment is already at my local post office in Maryland. Of course, I just want to squeeze the pretties, since I won’t be working on anything until my current pattern test is complete.
I really enjoy tackling challenging projects…
I was still having issues crocheting the double double treble group, so I looked at the scarf on the patten test, and figured out a few things I was doing wrong. Also helpful, was revisiting Sarah’s pattern testing post. I remembered that she had done small swatch, for another pattern tester, and so I flipped pages until I found her sample. Ding! Ding! After viewing her practice swatch, I saw what else I doing incorrectly.
I figured out that the stitches are connected at the top, but I forgot an important step, I need to connect at the bottom too! Many thanks to Sarah, for commenting on my latest post, to offer additional tips. I really appreciated that.
I’ve stopped working on the scarf today, it’s time to hang out with my daughter a bit more before it’s her bedtime. However, after work tomorrow, I’ll use the knowledge I’ve learned with my practice swatch, and apply it too the actual scarf. I figured it was wise to work on a practice swatch, until I realized my errors since I didn’t want to keep wrecking my lovely yarn.
When it comes to hand crafts, I’m a visual person, with some techniques I’m fine reading and applying, but with complicated stitches videos or photos are very helpful.
Mistakes happen… learn from your mistakes and keep moving forward.
A few weeks ago I started looking for ski mask patterns…
I found a ski pattern that I liked but the designer called the hat a ‘Balaclava’, from some quick research I learned that the name comes from the town ‘Balaklava’ which is located in the Ukraine.
Since I didn’t want something fancy for my father, I came up with my own pattern. It’s only rib stitch (k2, p2) this is the perfect project to have on hand when I don’t feel like looking at what I’m knitting, or when I need a break from some of my intricate works in progresses.
Currently the knitted balaclava is drying on a chair, and sometime tomorrow I’ll give this to my father. He loves to be outside, and having something that covers most of his face might make my mother not fuss at him so much.
I made his knitted balaclava in a olive color (perfect for him since he doesn’t like anything too loud) so I know he’ll wear this hat. What I’m really liking about the hat is how incredibly soft it is, and the rib stitch makes it super stretchy and warm. I’m sure he’ll enjoy wearing this hat throughout the winter months. And while you could ‘just pick up a department store ski mask’, the density, and the feel of that fiber compared to what I knitted isn’t the same.
This is the first hand washed item that I’ve made for my father…
Last year, his favorite hat was a crocheted hat that I crafted using man made fibers. The hat I made, was similar to this crocheted chunky cranberry hat. The only difference is my father’s was crocheted in black with the cranberry trim at the rim of the hat.
In a few weeks, I’ll start knitting a balaclava hat for my daughter. I’m really liking this cabled balacalva pattern. I most likely won’t follow the pattern exactly, but add my own twist.
But now… it’s time to work on the crocheted scarf that I’m pattern testing. I’m currently stumped on one section, and I know it’s something simple I’m overlooking.
I stumbled upon triple treble crochet by accident..
Last December, when I l learned to crochet, after learning the basic stitches I just did my own thing. I called it ‘playing with stitches’. While playing with stitches, I would do various yarn overs, to see how it would look. It was a lot of fun for myself, playing around with crochet, not being concerned about following a pattern. I just wanted to become comfortable with holding a hook. Fast forward a month later, and I learned that one of the stitches that I adored is called, triple treble crochet! And while triple treble crochet wasn’t new to me, when tackling this scarf, making the double double treble group was…
So while this video isn’t how to make the double double treble group (ddtg) it’s helpful for those wanting to learn how to make the double treble crochet (dtc) aka triple treble crochet (ttc).
You want to know something, the crocheted scarf I’m making would have come in handy at my daughter’s outdoor soccer game this morning. My daughter and I both took a nap, shortly after arriving home from her soccer game. It was chilly! 30F/+1.1C And the wind was blowing which made it colder.
In hindsight I should have brought one of my super thick crocheted or knitted afghans. It would have kept my legs nice and toasty. Cool weather is a great time to flaunt your yarnie creations. My daughter was rocking her knitted owl hat on the soccer field.
It’s time to correct my mistakes with the lovely crocheted scarf. Admittedly, mine isn’t looking too lovely at the moment, but it will once I correct my mistakes, and you better believe I’ll be wearing this scarf! Remember how I mentioned that most animal fibers make me itch, well I’ve found a wool brand that my skin tolerates, and it’s Patons Classic Wool!
For the past few months, I’ve been searching for the perfect scarf pattern to make. All this time, I thought it would be something knitted, but I was lured in by one of Sarah’s lovely designs. Oh, I’m thrilled, just discovered that Sarah now has a blog!
I’ve been working on this pattern test for a little while, squeezing in stitches when I had the chance. Early this morning, while I was crocheting I realized that something was odd with Row 1, it looked nothing like Sarah’s pretty design. I was in Row 8, there are about 13 rows total. Yeah, not fun! I looked at her design, and other pictures left by pattern testers, and realized that I’d left out a crucial step… I wasn’t working the new stitch in the same stitch as the last group double double treble group (ddtg). Well, that would explain the wonky look!
Perhaps this is a blessing in disguise? I wasn’t thrilled with the multicolored yarn for this project, and so I think I’ll swap that yarn and replace it with another color. I have a lot of yarn, and added more to my yarn stash yesterday. Oh well, I’ll have time today. My daughter and I are planning to have a day of crafts, after her soccer game this morning.
Crochet is my newest craft, it’s almost been a year. I’ve really enjoyed my crochet journey. I’ve moved past turning practice crocheted swatches into doll clothing (which thrilled my daughter) and have moved on to making actual crocheted items.
This pattern has challenged me (in a good way) to expand my crochet stitches, and it has given me ideas of things I can make using the stitch.
You know something? Frogging the majority of my work, could have been avoided if only I’d paid more attention to the pattern.
I’ve been making my own natural skin care products (shampoo, lotions, soap, facial cleansers, scrubs, etc) for over twenty years. I was naturally curious about the ingredients that went into products, and during my time of research I ;earned a lot, accumulated numerous books on natural skin care and picked up a few certifications in the process (such as my aromatherapy certification). I even had a small business that focused on natural skin care products, and while I still make products for a few stores, I’m not doing the volume I used to.
About a year ago, one of my favorite essential oil companies stopped making essentials and is now strictly a resource database for all things related to essential oils. I still frequent the site, but I sure wish that they still had their essential oils. Earlier today, I restocked my supply of essential oils (I purchase in bulk so my supplies last a while) and I’m hoping that I’m liking the quality of the companies products. Either way, I’ll definitely write a review once they arrive.