Weekend Update! Staying Small...

Sometimes you just have to carry on... but attitude counts!

It's been a while since I posted a project update, and for those of you who know about my health struggles, I know you aren't surprised about the ebb and flow, because I talk about ebb and flow a lot.  No really, a lot.

Almost as much as I talk about my health.  :oP  But when something takes up the majority of your time, it's sometimes all you've got to talk about.

Since my last update, I've been x-rayed and MRI'd.  Along with everything else, I've managed to rip two large holes in my rotator cuff.  Large enough where my primary doc thinks surgery will be the only real answer.  So, I waited two weeks to get into the only shoulder surgeon in my area.... and the day before my appointment they called and postponed for another two weeks. 

I realize life happens to us all, so I do my best to be patient, but, wow, it pretty much stinks.  Besides the pain and weakness , my arm is numb, and both my husband and I are justifiably nervous about how I am going to get things done as my arthritis begins to flare at the end of my Remicade cycle - especially if they tell me I have to put that treatment on hold (it can increase the risk of infection).

So, you'll understand when I say I am staying small at the moment! 

I am still working on the Tunisian blanket for my grandson, a few more stripes and I will be ready to start the edging.

But in order to satify my need for finished items, I've been working on a variety of smaller projects ... like the BB-8 beanie addition to my free Droid Beanies pattern.

It's even been grandson approved!

I also had a lot of fun working on these fantastic gauntlets in Maleficent inspired colors. 

I used Wendy Lewis' Fervor Gauntlets pattern and it's fantastic.  I will end up making more of these... some without the extra points at the fingers.  They are easy to make,  the fabric is nicely solid, and they fit great!

My favorite Hogwarts at Ravelry challenge of the week was to order a drink at The Three Broomsticks Pub in Hogsmeade.  I went with a nice frothy butterbeer.

Which coincidentally also transforms into a cozy hat for the Michigan Veterans Foundation.

Its my free pattern The Basic Guy Hat.  You know... no frills, just comfortable.  ;o)

Last but certainly not least, making toys is one of my favorite things for many reasons.  It makes me smile just because it's a project with no other purpose than to entertain me.  It keeps my mind off my troubles while I am working on it, but also, it's just fun to be able to say "I made that!" when it's done.

More importantly, it makes other people smile, and in this case at least two other people which is a bonus in my book.

The pattern is Shaun the Sheep Plushie by Abigail Gonzalez.

So... don't be afraid to get geeky when you need a lift.  Sometimes finding the fun is also the path to finding what gets you through another day!

Freebie Friday - Yarn Jewelry Scarf

This scarf is a great way to practice triple crochet (or even taller quadruple or quintuples) and use that one special skein of yarn you love but can’t decide how to use.

I call it “yarn jewelry” because it’s the kind of scarf that isn’t intended to keep you warm – it’s just *pretty*!

The pattern is available as a free download on Ravelry, or you can download a .pdf here.

I used:

180 yards handspun yarn, fingering weight
I/5.5mm hook

You can use any yarn, as long as you use a hook 3-4 sizes larger than called for on the label. We use a larger hook to make sure those tall stitches have lots of squishy drape.

Step by step!

Chain the desired width of your scarf, stopping at an odd number. For “yarn jewelry” I like to start with about 6 inches – in this case 29 chains.

1. Begin mesh by working your first triple crochet (tc) into the 7th chain from your hook. The 6 skipped chains will count as your first stitch *and* a skipped chain on the bottom on both the top and bottom of your row.

The spacing will make more sense as we move along.

To continue the row, chain one, skip one, and triple crochet into the next stitch. See how the chain one at the top and the skip one at the bottom of the row create rectangular blocks?

Your last triple crochet should match up with the last chain.

1. Turn. Chain 5 (4 counts as first triple, 1 counts as first chain 1), skip one and triple crochet into the top of the triple crochet in the row below.

Continue mesh pattern *ch 1, skip 1, tc into top of tc below* across.

When you get to the end of the row, take a close look at the chain that started the row below.

Make sure you skip one, and work your last tc into the next chain to maintain those blocks.

Repeat Row 2 to your desired length. I like between 6-8 feet but to be honest… I just work until I have about 5 yards remaining in my skein, just enough for the edging.

Edging
1.Turn. Ch 1, single crochet in each tc and ch across

Be careful when you get to the end of the row, sc into two chains (one for the chain space, and one for the final stitch in the row) in order to maintain those blocks.

2. Turn. Ch 1 and sc in each stitch across.

3. Turn. Ch 1 and sc in first stitch.

*ch 3, skip 1, sc in next stitch* across. Fasten off

Repeat edging rows 1-3 on the other end of the scarf, working into the opposite side of your original starting chain.

Be sure to work 2 sc into the turning chain (one for the first stitch, one for the first ch 1 space) to maintain the shape of those blocks.

Your final edging will look something like this.

And the mesh like this:

Wash and block so your yarn settles in...

... and wear with flair!

Tutorial - Triple/Treble Crochet!

Triple/treble crochet stitches aren't used as often and single and double crochet, but they are the foundation of an important concept in crochet.  You can make a stitch as tall as you want it to be by adding another yarn over before you begin!

Some folks call it triple and some treble, potayto/potahto.  Both are abbreviated "tc" in patterns.

Just as single crochet starts with a single loop on your hook, and double crochet starts with two loops... you guessed it, triple/treble crochet begins with three loops! 

We create that second and third loops with yarn overs.

Next, we insert the hook under the top two loops of the next stitch in the row below.

Yarn over...

... and pull up a loop.

There are now four loops on the hook.

To remove loops in taller crochet stitches, we always remove them in pairs. 

Begin with a yarn over.

Pull that loop through TWO of the four loops on your hook. Afterwards, you will still have three loops remaining.

To remove the remaining loops, repeat the process. 

Yarn over, and remove loops in pairs until you are left with one loop on your hook.

I worked several triple/treble crochet (tc) so you could see how they look together.










But just as with the stitches we've learned above previously, there are increases, decreases, front loop only, back loop only, even "post" stitches that are worked around the center post of the stitch to create texture.

Here... let me show you!

To expand even farther into quadruple (start with 4 loops on your hook), quintuple (start with 5 loops on your hook), just remember the name refers to how many loops are on your hook when you begin. 

The rest of the stitch is the same, insert and pull up a loop, and remove loops in pairs.  Each pair makes it taller! 


Don't forget to check back in later this week for a free pattern based on triple/treble crochet... Til next time, keep on crafting!