Hats and Scarves

Last evening I turned in a batch of scarves and hats to the St. Matthew's ministry at Panera Bread.

I worked on this scarf there and finished it this morning. It measures 7" by 60". I used part of a huge skein of Red Heart worsted weight yarn that I've had in my stash for maybe 15 years. I really like this stitch pattern, which I got from about.com. It is three rows of slip stitch and a row of single crochet, all worked in the top loop. I like it. It is very solid. But it takes longer to make the slip stitches than other crochet stitches. Originally I bought this maroon and green and white to make large Christmas stockings. I have now used the green and the maroon for hats and scarves for charity. 

The last picture is what's left of the stash. There's one finished stocking and three panels (out of six) for a tree skirt. Should I finish the skirt? I no longer have the maroon and green, and it's probably no longer available. Will donate the stocking, I guess, maybe to the Community Lunch program. ?

Made It!

this is fun???

Here's how much "fun" I had last night while listening to a stump speech by Donald Trump last night :-).

I'm about half done with the squares and hexagons of the Persian Tiles afghan kit I started at the beginning of September. 

I'm also working on a shawl for the Peace Prayer Shawl ministry. I should finish it up today. Yesterday I had to do frogging on the last row in order to preserve enough yarn to finish. Still not sure I have enough. The pattern is the Top-Down Shawl from red heart.com. The yarn is Red Heart Unforgettable in the Springtime color, very muted pastels.

The Mad Hatter Week

The last time I went to a meeting of the St. Matthews Knotting/Crocheting Ministry, it was announced that men's hats and scarves. At the meeting I started the brown hat using a Red Heart pattern called "T(hat) Cool Hat." I chose it because  I had some bulky yarn in my stash, which I had with me, and the pattern is designed to use bulky yarn. It is finished off with a row of brown single crochet and a row of beige single crochet. For the scarf I used another Red Heart pattern. It is basically a long rectangular granny square. The first round is worked on both sides of a long starting chain. I finished odd with brown and beige to make it coordinate with the hat. I like it but I fear the hat is too small for a man.

So next I tried a pattern from a book I have called "Clever Crochet Accessories." The pattern is titled "Sedimentary Hat." It has slip stitch rows of contrasting color in between wavy rows. Very cool but kinda fiddly. You can't do it mindlessly. There's counting involved and subtle changes to stagger the waves and gradually decrease to the top. Also, it recommends carrying the two colors along. No cutting and attaching at the beginning each row. My color changes are no exactly seamless. The uniqueness of the stitch pattern does not show in the picture. I will add a close up picture. The matching scarf is in the same granny stitch pattern with the finishing rows a wavy row and a slip stitch row from the hat pattern. 

The green hat is a ribbed stitch. 

The Yes Yes Shawl

This is a pattern published by The Crochet Crowd. I started out working from the written directions. It was not going well, so I wrote out the pattern by hand in a list format. I finished it, but I think it looks a little uneven (sloppy) (wonky)? It just doesn't look like it was done by someone with 60 years of crocheting under her belt. What's the word for that? The yarn is Red Heart Boutique in the Cappuccino

Color.  A unique feature of this pattern is the row of front post double crochets that adds a ridged texture. I used the J size hook recommended on the yarn label.

Shawl

Finished today. My current favorite stitch, the corner to corner. The yarn is from my stash. I don't remember buying it. I think I just wanted to try this Caron Simply Soft Light. It is 100% acrylic, rated #3 Light. Size G hook was recommended and that is what I used. I'm estimating I used 7 oz. The color is called Bubblegum. I just found the edging pattern on Facebook this morning. It was posted by another crocheter, who wove ribbon above the ruffle of five double crochet shells. I'll give it to the Peace Prayer Shawl Ministry.

Another Sampler afghan

I just finished this sampler afghan from Afghans For All Seasons leisure Arts 1993. The yarn is the self-striping Magic Light yarn from www.iceyarns.com in Turkey. It is my favorite yarn at this time. Will give it to the Prayer Shawl Ministry at Peace Church. I probably will buy more of this yarn -- soon.

Meringue Stitch Baby Throw

I finished this last month. The picture with the baby is the picture from the pattern. The yarn is white Simply Soft. the pattern  is from Yarnspirations. When I saw that picture, I had to make one, even though I didn't have a baby in mind that could use it. I posted in an Etsy shop I created called Made For You by Nana. Last week I learned that Megan from the choir had a baby girl, so I hope to give it to her.

Butterfly Stitch Shawl

Lagniappe Shawl

Finished this today for the Prayer Shawl Ministry at Church. The pattern is called Lagniappe and the yarn is Red Heart Boutique Unforgettable in Cappuccino. 

Spiral and Rings of Change

 I finished this this morning. It is a combination of two patterns designed by Frank O'Randle, Mini Spiral and Rings of Change. The yarn is Simply soft in cream, bone, taupe and brown Hook size H. I will be giving it to a charity group.