Plarn Patterns

I've noticed that a lot of people are looking for plarn patterns.  Please note that working with plarn is heavier going than using regular yarn.  Take breaks every so often so as not to hurt yourself.

Here are some good places to find patterns for using up your plarn.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/search#query=plarn

http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/search.php

Here's a good place to find out how to make plarn:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Recycle-Plastic-Shopping-Bags-into-Yarn/

And several good places to learn how to make it and more ways to use it.

http://www.ehow.com/search.html?s=making+plarn&skin=corporate&t=all

While you are cleaning out the odds and ends that make into something else, check out this website for learning to make t-shirt yarn.  Grab a largish hook and off you go!

http://knitting.about.com/od/yarn/ss/t-shirt-yarn.htm

Happy crafting,

Kathi

Comfy

Even though it isn't all that cold, sometimes the humidity gets through to my bones.  I thought I would just pop a few comfy pictures of cozy looking afghans to help us think warm thoughts.  (Pictures courtesy of Lion Brand Yarn)

Color Spectrum Afghan

 

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L10557.html

Snowball Motif Afghan
 

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L10558.html?noImages=

Triangle in the Square Afghan



http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L10525.html?noImages=

Bello Ripple Throw



http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L10549.html?noImages=

There.  Don't you feel warmer already?

Happy crafting.

Kathi Linz

Hats with Flowers

I've noticed lately that young people are wearing plain knitted or crocheted hats.  The ladies favor them decorated with flowers.  I found a pattern for crocheted roses on Lion Brand Yarn.



The pattern itself can be found at: http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/chs-rosettes.html?noImages=&r=1

I also found a pattern for a knitted cap with bead flowers:



http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/khs-decoratedCap-2.html?noImages=

When I checked out Ravelry for hats with flowers (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/search#query=hats flowers), I found that many of the knitted hats had the flower pattern built in.  Otherwise, there are flowers of all kinds affixed to caps.  I found ones made of netting or buttons or even artificial flowers attached to the hat.  There were various kinds of flowers other than roses, and some hats had more than one flower.  It seems like this would be a useful -  and welcomed - project if you have someone in mind for a gift during the cold weather.

Happy crafting,

Kathi

Crocheted Easter Eggs

Thanks to Lion Brand Yarn for the photo

Cholesterol-free eggs. 

If you've been in a grocery store, you may have noticed that the Easter candy is already on display.  So here is a crochet pattern for no-bake, no-calorie, fat-free, diabetic-friendly Easter eggs.  How can you beat that?

Imagine a basket filled with soft colorful eggs for those little ones that you love (who will have a grand time holding an egg toss).  Or for the elders who are on restricted diets but still have the heart of a child and love those Easter traditions.

The pattern requires only 17 rounds per egg.  You have time to make a carload before April 8.
If you want to give it a try, find the pattern at Lion Brand Yarn under "Easter Egg". http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L0135AD.html?noImages=&r=1

Happy crafting.

Kathi

Knit Baby Afghans by the Pound by Rita Weiss

For our knitters:

We have a new knitting book put out by Leisure Arts called Knit Baby Afghans by the Pound by Rita Weiss.  There are 10 baby afghan patterns about evenly split between easy and intermediate skill levels.  I'm not much of a knitter, but there is one called "Blue Bells" that I'm tempted to try - especially since my niece is just about due to have a baby boy. 

If you have a new arrival in the family or might like to make one for a children's hospital, these afghan patterns are absolutely wonderful.

Happy crafting,

Kathi

Dinosaur Scarves for Superbowl

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis has five dinosaur statues and each of them now has a blue and white scarf for Superbowl.  The scarves were knitted using rope for yarn and two broomsticks for knitting needles!

If you would like to read the article and see the photos, you can check this link:
http://blog.childrensmuseum.org/blog/childrens-museum-marketing/a-new-look-for-the-big-game

Happy crafting,

Kathi

Knit and crochet Patterns

Linda Higginbotham suggested that we let you know about a website she discovered by a lady from the Netherlands.  http://www.jessica-tromp.nl/jessicaintroduction.htm

I scanned through it a bit.  The lady has thousands for patterns for knitting, crocheting, and knitting machine.  See if you might find something interesting to you.

Happy crafting,

Kathi Linz

Crochet Fingerless Mittens

I wrote one for the knitters.  Now here's one for the crocheters among us.

Lion Brand Yarn lets us post their pictures on our blog, so here are a couple of ideas to warm your imagination along with your hands.



These are called "All Season Wristers".  They are supposed to be easy to crochet.
http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/80703AD.html?noImages=0

While I was hunting for these, I stumbled across crocheted driving gloves.  What a good idea!


http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/80007AD.html?noImages=0

When you have finished checking http://cache.lionbrand.com/ for your favorite crochet ideas, remember to try www.ravelry.com and www.crochetpatterncentral.com for more ideas and free patterns.

Happy crafting,

Kathi

Fingerless Knitted Mittens

(The music begins)
'Tis the season to knit mittens.  Fa la la la...  Well, you get the drift.

So far January hasn't been overly cold.  Perhaps you would like to make a pair of fingerless mittens, also sometimes called gauntlets or cuffs.  Lion Brand Yarn offers this free beginner pattern called "Learn to Knit Cuffs".


Let's say you are pretty good at knitting.  These are called Norwegian Wristers.


For the experienced knitter, you could try these Mocha Latte Mitts.


You can find these patterns at http://cache.lionbrand.com/.  Remember to look in www.ravelry.com, www.crochetpatterncentral.com, and http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com/

As the winter settles in a little more, we'll explore some mittens that keep the fingers warm, too.

Happy crafting,

Kathi