Hot off the presses, the library received a copy of Crocheted Afghans: 25 Throws, Wraps, and Blankets to Crochet by Melody Griffiths.
Many of the blankets shown can be made of odd balls of yarn. However, almost any of them can be made with your chosen color scheme, so these would be great ideas for gifts, home, sale, or charity.
I found several patterns that I would like to try - once the heat breaks. One of my favorites was a yo-yo afghan pattern. It's called Puffs Baby Blanket in the table of contents.
Some other eye-catching patterns were - well, they all were eye-catching! You'll have to pick up this book and see which ones suit your tastes.
Happy crafting,
Kathi
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Mochimochi
As amigurumi is to crochet, so mochimochi is to knitting. I put "mochimochi" in the search bar to see what it was exactly and all these pictures of tiny, tiny knitted things came up. I found tiny knitted skyscrapers, bunnies, candy corn, and a couch. All of them have eyes which give the little knitted things the look of awareness.
You have to use small knitting needles and a fine-ish yarn. There are several free patterns on a few websites. I couldn't find a picture that I believed was free to use, so you'll have to do your own search.
The library just ordered a book about these little creatures called Teeny-tiny Mochimochi: More Than 40 Itty-bitty Minis to Knit, Wear, and Give by Anna Hrachovec. I can't tell you what day it will arrive, but please keep your eyes open for it.
Happy crafting,
Kathi Linz
You have to use small knitting needles and a fine-ish yarn. There are several free patterns on a few websites. I couldn't find a picture that I believed was free to use, so you'll have to do your own search.
The library just ordered a book about these little creatures called Teeny-tiny Mochimochi: More Than 40 Itty-bitty Minis to Knit, Wear, and Give by Anna Hrachovec. I can't tell you what day it will arrive, but please keep your eyes open for it.
Happy crafting,
Kathi Linz
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Amazing Old Crochet Book
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/20776/20776-h/chapter_8.html (Knitting)
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/20776/20776-h/chapter_9.html (Crocheting)
This is the link to a book on Project Gutenberg called Encyclopedia of Needlework by THÉRÈSE DE DILLMONT. I left her name in capitals to preserve the French marks.
You might wish to check out the illustrations that accompany some of the clearest instructions I have ever read. When you get to the laces and larger pieces of work, she may have used a camera. However, under the explanation of the basic stitches, every illustration is done in pen-and-ink and you can note every stitch plainly.
Should your needlework interests lie outside of knitting or crochet, you will find chapters on sewing, darning, and how to set whalebone stays in your corset.
"Fixing whale-bones (fig. 38).—Before slipping the whale-bone into its case or fold of stuff, pierce holes in it, top and bottom, with a red hot stiletto. Through these holes, make your stitches, diverging like rays or crossing each other as shown in fig. 38."
Happy crafting,
Kathi
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/20776/20776-h/chapter_9.html (Crocheting)
This is the link to a book on Project Gutenberg called Encyclopedia of Needlework by THÉRÈSE DE DILLMONT. I left her name in capitals to preserve the French marks.
You might wish to check out the illustrations that accompany some of the clearest instructions I have ever read. When you get to the laces and larger pieces of work, she may have used a camera. However, under the explanation of the basic stitches, every illustration is done in pen-and-ink and you can note every stitch plainly.
Should your needlework interests lie outside of knitting or crochet, you will find chapters on sewing, darning, and how to set whalebone stays in your corset.
"Fixing whale-bones (fig. 38).—Before slipping the whale-bone into its case or fold of stuff, pierce holes in it, top and bottom, with a red hot stiletto. Through these holes, make your stitches, diverging like rays or crossing each other as shown in fig. 38."
Happy crafting,
Kathi
Thursday, July 7, 2011
New Crochet Book
The library recently received a new book called Around the Corner: Crochet Borders by Edie Eckman. It shows 150 crochet patterns to attach to either a knit or crochet piece. There is also a brief section that explains how to attach a crocheted edge to woven cloth.
The patterns show how to adjust for straight places, corners and curves. The author also suggest how to make color choices to make the whole piece magnificent.
With patterns that range from simple to extreme, you can make a plain piece as fancy as you wish.
This book is worth exploring.
Happy crafting,
Kathi
The patterns show how to adjust for straight places, corners and curves. The author also suggest how to make color choices to make the whole piece magnificent.
With patterns that range from simple to extreme, you can make a plain piece as fancy as you wish.
This book is worth exploring.
Happy crafting,
Kathi
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Baby Blanket
Courtesy of Lion Brand Yarn
Lately, I've worked on three baby blankets with one to go. This one is an easy pattern for knitting and just as easy for crochet. You start with one stitch and increase one stitch each row until you get to the diagonal width you want. It's pretty easy to measure in crochet. You might have to multiply your stitches per inch in your head if you're a knitter. If you have the needles and yarn to work four stitches per inch, then multiply four times the number of inches you want for the DIAGONAL measurement.
I worked on larger needles with two strands of yarn. As I worked I would measure the edge, not the length I was working across. When I had almost four feet from my hook to the point where I'd started, then I knew it was big enough, and I could start decreasing one stitch per row.
Courtesy of Lion Brand Yarn
Happy crafting,
Kathi
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)