Monday, May 13, 2013

Baby Christening or Party Patterns for Babies

Is there a newborn in your family about to be christened?  Would you be interested in making an outfit for the baby which might very well become a family heirloom for several generations? 
Try one of these patterns from the Lion Brand Yarn website.

Image of Crocheted Christening Gown And Bonnet

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L10357.html?noImages=

This one is for the crocheters. The pattern suggests that you have intermediate experience before tackling this pattern.

Image of Knit Christening Gown And Bonnet

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L10356.html

An experienced knitter can make a christening gown like this one.

This is so cute for a party dress, that it almost makes me want to get better at knitting.

Image of Party Girl Dress

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L20022.html

This is supposed to be a little easier to knit than the christening gown. If you consider yourself to be of at least intermediate skill, you can knit this for your precious little one.

Happy crafting,

Kathi Linz

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Covers for Modern Electronics

Here are a few more interesting items to make for our various electronic devices.

Phone cozies

Image of Pronto Phone Cozy

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L10564.html

Image of Smart Phone Cozy

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L10563.html?noImages=


iPad cover

Image of Crochet iPad Cover

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L20114.html?noImages=

Digital Tablet cover

Image of Digital Tablet Cozy

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L10543.html?noImages=

Book/Tablet cover

Image of Book/Tablet Cover

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/80067AD.html?noImages=

Thanks to Lion Brand Yarn for our photos and free patterns.

Happy crafting,

Kathi

Something a Little Different

I'm poking around for some knit and crochet ideas that are a little different.

Lion Brand Yarn has a pretty Tunisian crochet afghan that can be done with a regular crochet hook since you only hold a few stitches on the hook at a time. Here's the link to the pattern: http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L20319.html

Image of Tunisian Crochet Entrelac Throw

I think it looks bright, cheerful, and warm. It would be wonderful if I aimed towards doing one for next fall.

On the other end of the scale, here's a light, out-on-the-town crocheted shawl. (A little more advanced skill might be required for this one.)

   Image of Bridal Shawl

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L32001.html


This looks like an airy crocheted summer top. http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L20500.html


Image of Inside Out Circles Top

This is called a knit pattern. It's a pom-pom pillow, all soft and nice.

Image of Pom-Pom Pillow

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L0082B.html

Maybe you would like to try making a purse?

Image of Two Tone Bag

One for crocheters - http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L20627.html?noImages=

Image of Cable Ready Bag

One for knitters - http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/60399B.html?noImages=

Image of Loom Woven Bag

One for loom knitters - http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L20267.html?noImages=

And a spare for the knitters. This was just too interesting to pass up.

Image of Slip Stitch Mosaic Tote

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L20288.html?noImages=

Whatever you pick,

Happy crafting,

Kathi

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Mile-a-Minute Afghans by Leisure Arts, Inc.



After I brought the mile-a-minute afghan that I was working on for a friend, it seemed that the knit and crochet ladies were interested in this kind of pattern. The book above is Mile-a-Minute Afghans by Leisure Arts, Inc.

While we don't have this book in our library, it can be requested through Evergreen Indiana. This book has 56 patterns for this technique. What I like most about it, is that you can make as many or as few strips as you want. One strip can make a scarf, three or four make a shawl, and anything above that makes an afghan up to one that can cover a king-sized bed.

They can be worked in one color, a couple of colors, or - my favorite - use variegated yarn somewhere in the pattern with a couple of complementary colors to set off the design.



This one is ten strips wide and covers a double bed. You can also adjust the length of the strips making this a very versatile technique.

Happy crafting,

Kathi

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

3 Recent Crochet Projects

Here are three projects that I recently completed.



This one is made with 14 colors. Make a chain half as long as you want the width to be. Decrease by 2 stitches at the same end of each row until you finish the pie wedge. Start the next color and run it the length of the first wedge. Decrease each row as before. I joined with single crochet. You can also simply sew the two sides together. Then go around the afghan with each of the colors used in the wedges. (Done in sc, ch stitches)



This round one is simpler than the one above. Simply increase each row by 12 stitches. I ended up with visible "corners" because it was easy to increase in the same place on each row. (Done in dc)



And one mile-a-minute pattern.

We have - or can get from another library - patterns similar to this for anyone who's interested.

Happy crafting,

Kathi Linz

Bridal Afghans

Do you know anyone special who is getting married?

Bernat has two beautiful afghans for brides.

This is the knitted one:

Gift of Love Cable Afghan

http://www.bernat.com/data/pattern/pdf/Bernat_SuperValueweb45_kn_afghan.en_US.pdf?utm_source=iContact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Bernat&utm_content=Bernat+April+Newsletter+2

And one for crocheters:

Wedding Rings Blanket (crochet)

http://www.bernat.com/data/pattern/pdf/Bernat_Mosaicweb13_cr_blanket.en_US.pdf?utm_source=iContact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Bernat&utm_content=Bernat+April+Newsletter+2

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Warmer Weather, Smaller Sections

Image of Half Square Triangle Blanket

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L20049B.html?noImages=

This afghan is made of small sections diagonally knit and then sewed together.

Image of USA Afghan

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L20281.html?noImages=

This afghan is crocheted in squares and sewed together. You could get it ready for Flag Day or the Fourth of July.

Image of Mod Hex Afghan
http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L20287.html?noImages=

Good at granny squares, but want something a little different?  This hexagonal granny afghan can be worked on vacation and assembled later - like when the weather cools off again.

Thanks to Lion Brand Yarn for their excellent patterns.

Happy crafting,

Kathi Linz