C2C Christmas Character Graphghan

Ahh, the blogosphere! The biggest small corner of the world wide web. It is so fun to always be able to stumble upon new blogs. Just like I did with Sarah Zimmerman's blog Repeat Crafter Me. The blog is truly wonderful and she has spectacular free patterns. She recently released 9 blocks for a Christmas Character Afghan.

And as with most projects made with yarn- I couldn't wait to get started. The only things was... I had no idea how to do the technique it utilized- "Corner to Corner" (or c2c) crochet. Well! That has never stopped me before, so why would it now?

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Crafting and creating are made so much easier by the aforementioned internet. I hoped on over to The Crochet Crowd website to find a wonderful tutorial for c2c, commonly used for "graphghan" projects like this. After some trial runs I decided there was no time like the present and I got to work. 

Between my lovely 1990s floral couch and (never-ending) quilted headboard fabric (finished! Read about it here), there is a lot going on in this picture. Over half-way done with the square and you can see my method for keeping track of my rows. I printed the pattern and slipped it in a sheet protector so I could use a dry-erase marker to denote progress and direction. Much more difficult than I originally thought.

And... just like that! The Santa square is complete. It needs a little blocking for sure. It isn't perfect but for my first try it's not too bad. I will just have to keep at it. But for now: 

Merry Christmas in October!

Cube Infinity Scarf

In crochet, it doesn't take long before you are itching to zoom past the basics of single crochet, double crochet, etc. You want to grow your skills and really "wow" people. This free pattern, coincidentally from a blog titled Grow Creative, does just that.

"Cube Infinity Scarf"

Each row is a different pattern but before long you get the hang of it and it is so interesting to see it coming together so fast. The pictures did not turn out great because I cranked out this project as a birthday present for a friend. But the blue color of the scarf is absolutely breathtaking.

Sometimes I see yarn and it "speaks" to me. Well, this yarn immediately reminded me of my good friend from Grenada, maybe because it matches her perfect blue eyes?! 

I hope she enjoys the scarf, and her happy birthday!

Lite Brite Scarf: Faux Broomstick Lace

When I look for patterns online I try to find a balance between challenging and do-able. I had seen and saved this broomstick lace pattern, but it looked a little tricky. Then one day I rolled past a "Faux Broomstick Lace." And since "faux" often = easier, I knew I had to check it out.

Still, I put it off. Then, with trepidation, I approached.

Pattern: Faux Broomstick Lace by: A Southern Lady's Ramblings

I did a double take.
       Only 250 yards?!

Triple take.
            Only 2 rows and second repeats?!

Quadruple take. 
                  ONLY ONE STITCH = single crochet?!

The pattern truly was a simple as it sounds. The trick is to use an over-sized crochet hook (check!). Then you stretch and the loose stitches pull tight so you get the faux lace effect! Pretty neat. You can see my during and after pictures below.



The scarf was about 9" wide and shrunk down to 4" wide while it was only 50" long and stretched out to a whole 90" long!! It was like magic, and an absolutely dreamy way to use this ahh-maazing yarn I got that is softer than a baby cherub's locks.



I have named it the Lite Brite scarf because when I modeled it with my black t-shirt it totally reminds me of afternoons spent playing with the Lite Brite with my siblings.

Because the scarf stretches so nicely you can wear it a few different ways.

Like two loops:



or three!:

Now comes the hardest part.... listing it in my shop! I am having a hard time letting this one go!

Lover's Knot Infinity Scarf

Am I the only one who saw this pin running rampant on Pinterest awhile back?

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And am I the only one who was disappointed when I (finally) opened it up and found it was in some language I can't even identify?

Just means more of a mystery to be solved and another stitch to be conquered!

After some digging I found a great blog with a blogger who felt the same. Turns out she is pretty smart and did all the work to create a perfect tutorial for the Lover's Knot stitch. Thank you Amelia is Rabbit!

I went the Michael's Joann's Lobby, conveniently located in my living room, and found the perfect yarn. Yarn doesn't always speak to me. But this yarn spoke and screamed.

I love this stitch because it looks Celtic, so what better yarn then a bright green yarn with the tiniest hint of glitter (which is difficult to capture in the photos).

It reminds me of Merida from Disney's Brave.

My biggest hesitation was getting each loop exactly the right length. I loved the way it turned out. It is nice and light so it is perfect for us Southern California residents who are still wishfully dreaming of Fall.



I wanted to follow the trend of infinity scarfs so I went ahead and made it happen by crocheting a row and using it to join it all together.

Aquatic Blossom Corf

What is a Crof?!?! 

= when you can't decide if it is a cowl or a scarf so you get the best of two worlds! 

Variegated yarn has always been a favorite to work with. It provides nice color without having to worry about changing colors. The color placement tends to be a happy accident!

But I have noticed that as I work with solid and variegated yarn, there are some patterns and stitches that work better for one than the other. So what do you think of this Aquatic Blossom pattern from Crochet Geek, worked up in Loops & Threads Charisma yarn in the color Mulberry Bush?

 

Whilst shopping at Michael's I saw this yarn knit up in a little sample piece. Then I promptly and madly dug through the yarn bins to find the last two skeins. That little sample piece is doing it's job!

I can't get over how beautiful and rich the colors are.



As I worked it up I noticed that all the purples always ended up in the same position. I wasn't sure how I felt about it at first, but it has really grown on me.

As I was modeling it I quickly put together an outfit that would be great for a casual Friday, or running around town. I love the purple shoes for an accent.



Find it in my Etsy shop here.

Do you  like the length? Would you buy it?

Rah Rah Redlands Cowl

Living here in Redlands I have the opportunity to share my city with a University. It's not a college town by any stretch of the imagination, but it is fun to have that young vigor and excitement around this time of year.

As I was making this cowl I realized that this is a UoR color! And since it is such a beautiful and deep maroon color, I had the hardest time photographing it to reflect it's true colors.



I think the above photo is the best representation of the true color, maybe a tiny bit more red.

You can fluff it out or keep it thin.

The beautiful lacy stitch was a really fun one. It was challenging and I had to stay on top of counting my stitches. You can find the pattern I modified here. 

You can find the finished scarf for sale in my Etsy shop. Just in time for upcoming University of Redlands homecoming... or any fall fashions you have in mind!

Crazy Shell Infinity Scarf

I dove head-first into this whole selling crochet madness. I got to work making up products to list. And I kept making, and making, until I realized I had a sufficient amount of products to at least try out this whole thing.

I don't know if I will sell anything, but I am trying my best to give the people what they want. My sister is an avid scarf wearer and so I roped her in to giving me input on the products I was making. I kept the mantra,

"Is this what the people want?!" 

Truth be told, there is no way to know. But I think this may be the biggest crowd pleaser of the scarves I have made so far. The pattern is simple but not boring. Fun, but not crazy. I'm not a huge pink fan, but even the color definitely grew on me.

Guess I will have to save this one for October- Breast Cancer Awareness month!

"Crazy Shell Infinity Scarf" pattern courtesy of The Batter's Box. It was a new but simple stitch that moved along quite nicely. Lastly I just had to include this picture I have titled:

"Pure Exhaustion: Or, time to put down the hook and go to Bed"



So I will, for now!