New Permissions!!

I recently received permission from Red Heart Yarn and Bernat Yarn companies to use their pictures and links. We are going to be able to post new ideas - many different ideas. Hurray!!

Red Heart Yarn has this cool purse pattern. They say it is easy to knit. I'll have to let you knitters tell me if that's true.
http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/color-knit-bag



For us crocheters, here's a Red Heart Yarn afghan great for this cold weather.
http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/ripple-strips-throw



We'll look through some Bernat patterns next time. This is going to be fun!

Happy crafting,

Kathi

Stashbusters - Granny Stripes and Granny Ripples

Now that you have all of your holiday gifts made, you probaby have some extra yarn lying around.  If you're like me, you have a PILE of yarn stuck in the corner just asking to be used up.

I keep an ice cream bucket or large pretzel jar to collect those tiny scraps of yarn that would otherwise drift to the bottom of the stash or unwind to make a huge tangled mess.  These small scraps make an excellent source when you want to put together a traditional granny square afghan or one of its variants like a hexagon granny.

 
Photos by Lion Brand Yarn

If your balls of leftover yarn are a little larger, you could use them up by crocheting a granny stripe or a granny ripple afghan.

Granny ripples are easy and look fancy.  You can use any combination of colors in any order.  You might want to organize the colors or just be random.  Both ways work beautifully.

Granny stripes are even easier.  You simply work the double-crochet clusters in a straight line.  You don't even have to count groups between peaks and valleys like you do with a ripple pattern. 

There are several good patterns for both types of afghans (and many others) on www.ravelry.com and www.crochetpatterncentral.com.

Happy stashbusting,

Kathi Linz

More Christmas Ornaments

We're almost up to Christmas.  Hopefully your tree doesn't have any bare spots, but just in case there are a couple of branches to fill in or maybe a hand-crocheted ornament would be the very thing for your friend or neighbor's present, here are a few ideas.



Crocheted finial ornaments by Lion Brand Yarn: http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L20301.html?noImages=



Little tiny knitted mittens and stockings.  How cute! http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L20304.html?noImages=



This knitted dreidel is just a shade late for this year's Chanukah.  http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/BK4K-0612002.html?noImages=

May your holiday season be the best you've ever had, and may you have some time to relax with your yarny projects.

Happy crafting,

Kathi

Mitered Squares

I believe when most yarn artists hear the term "mitered squares", they think of knitting.  I remember seeing patterns for knitted mitered afghans before I saw anything like it for crocheting.

The knitted ones start with the long edge and decrease into the center point at the other end of the square.  Squares build off of previous squares so you do not need to sew anything together at the end.


http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L20018.html?noImages=0


http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L10627.html?noImages=0

Lion Brand Yarn patterns have the crocheted mitering work from the long edge to the middle point just like it is in the knitted version.  However, these squares are made separately and then sewn together when they are finished.

In other places such as Ravelry, I've found crocheted mitered squares made from the small point and using increases to work out to the longer edge.  These also must be sewn together at the end of the project.

Tunisian crochet, being a craft that combines knit and crochet, works the stitches in much the same way as knitted mitered squares.  Each block is built on the previous row, the long edge is done first, and the rows decrease until they come to the opposite point.  They can be done row by row or from the center out.  I don't have the permissions I need to post a picture of this type , but they can easily be found in Google images as mentioned in previous posts.

If you prefer loom knitting, I found this website with a tutorial on mitering squares on a knitting loom: http://www.knitchat.com/tutorials/mitered-square-magic/

Happy crafting,

Kathi

Warm Feet for the Holidays

We've had a few cold snaps this fall - nothing that's been long-lasting - but you can tell winter is lurking in the wings.  I don't mind being cool, except when it comes to my feet.  I like warm feet.

I've found some slipper patterns that can be made by yarn workers of each type and for many sizes.

This one is crocheted for babies.


http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L20323.html?noImages=

This one is crocheted for adults.

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L20006B.html?noImages=

Here are two knitted booty patterns.

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L10256.html?noImages=


http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L10011.html?noImages=

And knitted for adults.


http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L10468.html?noImages=



http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/90080AD.html?noImages=

Loom knitting makes warm slippers too.


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

Men's slippers

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/kb-cabinSlippers.html?noImages=

These patterns are all from Lion Brand Yarn.  For more ideas, patterns, and designs, remember to check out www.ravelry.com, www.knittingpatterncentral.com, www.crochetpatterncentral.com, and other yarn craft websites and blogs.  One way to find exactly what you are looking for is to go to Google Images and type in knit slippers, or crochet slippers, or loom knit slippers.  Pictures will come up on the page and you can choose which you like best.  Click on the one you like and you will be taken to the website or blog where you will (not always) most likely find the pattern you are looking for.

Happy crafting - and keep those feet warm,

Kathi

Two New Knitting Books

The library recently got two new knitting books.



The Sock Knitter's Handbook: Expert Advice, Tips, & Tricks by Charlene Schurch and Beth Parrott and Knit Step by Step: More Than 150 Techniques and Stitch Patterns with 10 Easy Projects by Vikki Haffenden and Frederica Patmore.



If you are handy with a pair or needles, these might be something you want to explore.

Kathi

Christmas Ornament Ideas

Happy Holiday Season!

Knitters first this time.  You seem to get more patterns for little stockings.  There are a few examples:


http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L20297.html?noImages=



http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L20295.html?noImages=





http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L20296.html?noImages=

(I'll look for more ideas in the next blog post.)

Crocheters, here are a couple for you.


http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L20293.html?noImages=




http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L20292.html?noImages=


http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L20294.html?noImages=



Here are a couple of patterns for those who neither knit nor crochet.  These balls are woven - wrapped with yarn and then woven with a needle across the strands.



http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L20079.html?noImages=



This one is good to try with little ones.  They can personalize the family tree with something they were able to help make.
http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/L20080.html?noImages=

As always, you will find more patterns in www.knittingpatterncentral.com, www.crochetpatterncentral.com, www.ravelry.com, and any number of other craft websites and blogs.

One good way to find exactly what you have in mind is to go to Google Images, type in the project you want to work on and look at the pictures that come up.  If you click on one of the pictures, it will link you to the website or blog which will hopefully have the pattern for you to use.

I hope these ideas get you in the mood for the uncoming holidays.

Happy crafting.

Kathi