Le Cowl

I've made a few cowls in the last little while, and thought I should post a pattern,

These are super quick to make and super warm!

I used an N hook.
Ch80. Join together to make a circle.
Rows 1-15: ch4, lazy quad in each stich.
Continue for 15 rows, or until you've reached your desired height.

Crab stitch the top and bottom to finish off.

Super easy!

Here is a pic:
If you try it, let me know how it turns out!

Lazy Quadruple Crochet Stitch

So, I realized this week that the "quad" stitch that I've been using lately isn't actually a quad stitch.  I suppose this is what happens when you're self-taught.  I kept telling people that I was using a quad stitch for all the cowls and infinity scarves I've been making...and then I found this:

I tried this, but I couldn't keep all the loops the same size and I couldn't get the tension right.  So, I decided to stick to how I was doing things, even if it might be wrong because it's a lot quicker and easier.  Plus, it still made a tall stitch.  I tried to see if there was a name for whatever stitch I was doing, but nothing came up.  So, we'll just call it the Lazy Quad.

How to do the Lazy Quad: (Perhaps one day I'll post pics about it, but for now, I'll explain the best I can.)
1. Yarn over and insert hook into ch.
2. Yarn over and pull through. You should have 3 loops on your hook.
3. Ch2. You should still have 3 loops on your hook.
4. Yarn over and pull through 2 loops. You should have 2 loops on your hook.
5. Yarn over and pull through the last 2 loops.
6. What do you get?  A tall stitch! Repeat in the next ch.

If anyone knows the name for this, let me know.  For now, it's the Lazy Quad.

I'll leave you with my current work in progress. It's another infinity scarf in Vanna White's Grey Marble for my friend.  I'm telling you - Vanna White really does make good yarn. And yes, this is done using the Lazy Quad.

...and I'm back...kind of...maybe...

*dusts off the blog*

So, I guess my attempt at keeping up a regular blog isn't going so well...oops.  Well, I suppose I will just have to keep trying.

Oh la la, what have I made since my last post in June?  Lots - and if you are friends with me on Facebook, you would have seen it all because I take pictures of all my projects!  Maybe I'll blog about some of them another time (sooner, rather than later, hopefully!).  But today's topic?  Infinity scarves!

Yes, I have fallen in love with one pattern in particular: http://stingystitcher.blogspot.com/2011/10/infinity-scarf-once-again.html

Apparently, the blogger came up wtih the pattern after seeing a scarf at Forever 21.  I changed it slightly by doing a quad stitch instead of a treble stitch and by using an N (9 mm) hook.  The scarves that I have been making are about 5 feet long before I  stitch the ends together  and can wrap around three times.  Last week, in our wonderful -40C weather, I wore mine wrapped three times and it completely saved me!

Here are some pics:

fun stitches

looped

wrapped twice

wrapped three times

black and purple - a couple that I made for some friends

...and a new one for me.  This one was made with 3 skeins of Vanna's Choice yarn in Taupe Mist.  That Vanna White - who would have thought she would have her own brand of yarn?  Lucky duck.

P.S. This one is my new favourite scarf.



And there you have it folks - my first post in many, many months!  Now hopefully, it won't take quite as long to post again! 

(Thanks to my friend, Quyen, at http://www.designsbyq.com/ for making me write a post tonight!)





The Denim Rug - Take 2

I finally finished the rectangular rug!  I'm pretty happy with how it turned out...but it will probably be a while before I decide to make another one...if ever I make another one.  It's pretty labour-intensive, but worth it in the end.  I just love that it was made of old jeans!

And now...my first "how-to" post...

...ahem...

How to Crochet a Denim Rug

Material: Q hook, nine pairs of old jeans, scissors, needle and thread

1. Gather your jeans.  I originally started with eight pairs, but my dad ended up finding an old pair of my brother's from the early 90's.  (Yes, you read that right.  This is what happens when your parents don't get rid of anything.)  So, I used nine pairs in this rug.

2. Cut out the pant legs.  You will need to remove the pockets and the seams.

3. To make the "yarn," begin by cutting a one-inch strip.  Stop cutting approximately 0.5-inches away from the end, then switch directions.  You want your pant leg to be one long, one-inch strip.

4. Begin rolling the yarn into a ball after the first pant leg has been cut.  To add more yarn, simply sew the ends together.

5. When one pair of jeans has been rolled up, you are now ready to begin crocheting.



6. With a Q hook, ch 40 (or as many ch you need for the size rug you want).  The entire rug is worked up in sc.  Be sure to count your sc periodically to make sure you are on track!  To add more yarn, sew the ends together.

7. Continue working in sc until your rug is the size you want.

halfway!

The finished product:

And there you have it, folks!  An upcycled, crocheted, denim rug!

This one is going to sit at the back door...and I think I'm going to bring the oval one into my classroom in the fall.

PS - These are my new shoes.  Cute, no?





The Denim Rug

I love the idea of upcycling and repurposing.  There is just something so fun about taking something old and making it new.  Last summer, I made this:

It took seven pairs of old jeans - all generously donated by some friends - and a Q hook.  It is the rug we use in the back foyer, but I have been wanting to change it for quite some time.  After I made it, I really wished that I had made it rectangular, instead of oval.  So, in January, I posted a plea for old jeans on Facebook, with plans of making a rectangular rug.  This is what I got:

Yup, eight pairs of old jeans from friends and family.  I was so excited to get started right away, but somehow wasn't able to until, finally, last night.  So far, I have cut up and crocheted two pairs from this stack of jeans and it's looking great!  It should be finished in the next week or two.

Now...what am I going to do with the oval rug???  

Edit: Go to this post for the denim rug tutorial!

First Post!

So, I decided to start a blog.  Several years ago, I had a blog on Xanga.  Oh, good ol' Xanga.  It wasn't about anything important, really - I just blabbed about life.  It's still up and every once in a while, I'll log in to laugh at my twentysomething-year-old self.  Oh, I was funny, and oh, how things have changed!

This new blog?  I have plans for it to be a crocheting/craft blog, but we'll see what happens.  There are, of course, TONS of craft blogs out there, but I'm sure cyberspace can handle just one more.  And while crocheting and crafts may be the focus, some silly stories on life will likely end up posted, too. 

With all that said, and all my grandiose plans to start a craft blog, I'm sorry to say that I don't have anything new to share.  I haven't actually crafted in weeks!  I've got a few ideas spinning in my head and will probably start something soon, but in the meantime, I will have to leave you with:



Yes, I am leaving you with a zebra.  Why?  Because a craft blog should have pictures and because it's cute.  I made it a few years ago after my oldest daughter saw it in a book and begged me to make it.  She named it Zebu.  My kids still play with it and so far it's held up quite nicely.

So, I hope you'll come back again.  Posts about yarn, crochet, crafts, and life are still to come!  Any questions?  Just ask.