December Crochet Photo

The December crochet group was a bit thin for attendance.  In fact, Minnie and I were the only two there.  I did bring my camera.  This is the hooded scarf that Minnie Pfaffenberger was finishing up for a Christmas present - I'd best not say for whom.  lol

I'll try to remember the camera again for the next Knit Night.  We need a little more knitting in this blog.

Merry Christmas to all and Happy New Year.

Kathi

Speed Hook S-35 Triangle Shawl

Speed Hook S-35 Triangle Shawl

This shawl (pattern by Lion Brand Yarn http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/60516.html?noImages=)
may be the very thing for watching TV or reading on the cool night we have coming up.  Or you might think of making one ahead of time for spring.

This pattern couldn't be any easier.  You use an S hook and bulky yarn or two medium weight yarns held together. 

You start with 4 chains.  Single crochet in the second chain from the hook and in the last two chains.  This gives you three single crochet.  Chain one and turn.  In each following row, crochet two single crochets in the first stitch and the last stitch with one single in each single across.  This increases each row by two.  Keep working until you have 105 stitches across or you like the length of the shawl.

Hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Kathi

New Book

For those of you who are interested in knitting or crocheting prayer shawls, the library has its own copy of The Prayer Shawl Ministry: Reaching Those in Need by Lion Brand Yarn. 

The book has 8 patterns, a page on the meaning of colors, the colors that go with each month, prayers ranging from a Jewish blessing to babies, graduates, and newlyweds, and more.  The shawls can be great gifts for any life-changing event. 

Stop by and check it out for a great way to while away the winter hours.

Kathi Linz

Large Hooks

I seem to be perfectly capable of crocheting myself into carpal tunnel/tennis elbow symptoms.  Where I used to be able to crochet for eight hours straight, now I can't.  (Funny how the mind still thinks in terms of a young, strong body until the pain starts.)

One thing that helps me when I know I'm going into a marathon session like crocheting shawls for hospice, is to get out my bigger hooks.  The wider grip seems to prevent the damage and the bigger stitches make the project go faster.  I can still see fast results without the consequences.

V-stitch is one of the really good patterns for a large hook.  It opens up like a Solomon's knot.  I use a Q hook and two strands of yarn.

Happy crafting,

Kathi

Two More Shawls

I finished two shawls in the last five days.  One is a simple V stitch which worked up very quickly. 

The other is partly granny square and partly granny stripe.  I discovered that granny stripe spreads out more than the squares do, so rows are wider than the squares.  I evened it out a little by adding a row of single crochet to the edge of the squares.

I hope to get pictures of the knitters in a couple of weeks and the crocheters after that, so we can post their projects as well.

Happy crafting,

Kathi





Another Crochet Project

I'm still working on shawls for hospice.  (Several more to come - I'm sure.)

This is the most recent work.  It's a soft ripple pattern done on an N hook made with a single strand of yarn.  That makes the work a bit lacier.

Happy crafting,

Kathi Linz

New Books

Looking for new ideas?  Here are a few new yarn art books that have come in recently:

Teeny-Tiny MochiMochi: More than 40 Itty-Bitty Minis to Knit, Wear, and Give by Anna Hracjovec
Crochet Master Class: Lessons and Projects from Today's Top Crocheters by Jean Leinhauser and Rita Weiss  (Beautiful, but not easy)
Crochet Compendium: The Ultimate Collection of Crochet Techniques by Connie Ellison
Go Crochet: Afghan Design Workbook by Ellen Gormley  (Some very cool motifs and combinations)

And a couple for the KNOTTERS in the group:

Macrame Today: Contemporary Knotting Projects by Darlyn Susan Yee
The Weekend Crafter: Macrame: 19 Great Weekend Projects by Jim Gentry

Happy crafting,

Kathi