Friday, November 22, 2024

memories of time gone by

My grandmother passed away recently.

When we went to the funeral, there was a day where we went to her assisted living room to clean up everything.  It was a bittersweet experience, because I had visited her many times in that place and remembered sitting in the chair beside her bed talking to her, and in that moment I was emptying the room to make it ready for someone else in the future.  It felt strange.  

But as I was helping my aunt clean up and pack things in boxes and bags, I came upon a small purple piece of fabric that I immediately recognized.  It was the blanket I had made her ten years ago, when I had just gotten into crochet, and had made it into my very first pattern that I posted on this blog.  

It was faded in many spots, a sign of love and use, and I remembered when looking at the faded spots that she used to leave it on the patio in one of her chairs where the sun hit it just right and she and my grandfather could look out at the garden and talk.  It was a little coarse, as if she hadn't wanted to wash it in case it would get ruined, and somehow that didn't result in a bad smell, because it still had the soft scent of their patio.

Of course, I took it home with me and it now has a place of importance in my home office, and someday it will hopefully become a baby blanket. 

Tuesday, August 27, 2024

Hourglass Bobble Pillow Crochet Pattern

note: if you would like to support me and my designs, you can also purchase this pattern on my Etsy or Ravelry pages for $1.50.  You are not obligated to purchase my work, but any purchase is greatly appreciated and will go towards my future work! 

Hourglass Bobble Pillow Cover by Lauren K Designs



Tools and Material:

Yarn used in the pattern is Big Twist from JoAnn, but any worsted or aran weight yarn can be used.  I used about 1½ skeins, or 570 yards/521.2 meters (255g).   

US F5 - 3.75 mm crochet hook or as needed to achieve gauge

Darning Needle for weaving in ends


Stitches and abbreviations:

Ch - chain 

st/sts - stitch/stitches

Sc - single crochet 

Hdc - half double crochet - yarn over, insert hook into stitch, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through all 3 loops.

Bc - bobble crochet stitch - yarn over, insert into stitch, pull up a loop, yarn over, insert into stitch, pull up a loop ,yarn over, insert into stitch, pull up a loop, yarn over, insert into stitch, pull up one more loop.  Including your original loop on your hook, you should have 9 loops on your hook now. Yarn over one more time and pull it through all of the loops on your hook.


Gauge:

11 stitches and 11 rows = 4”

To find gauge, chain 12, then work single crochet for 11 rows.  This swatch was measured unwashed, so no need to wash to achieve gauge. NOTE: I crochet very loosely, so my gauge may not match yours.  Make sure to use a hook that works for you! 



Instructions:


Ch 56.

Row 1 and 2 and all RS rows: Sc in the second chain from hook, then Sc across (55 st). At the end of every row, ch 1 and turn.


Row 3 (WS): Sc 1, Bc in next st.  *Sc in next 4 st, Bc.* Repeat * 3 times. Sc 11. Bc. *Sc in next 4 st, Bc*.  Repeat * 3 times, Sc in last st. 


Row 5 (WS): Sc 3, Bc in next st.  *Sc in next 4 st, Bc.* Repeat * 3 times.  Sc 7, Bc. *Sc in next 4 st, Bc*. Repeat * 3 times, Sc 3. 


Row 7 (WS): Sc 5, Bc in next st.  *Sc in next 4 st, Bc.* Repeat * 3 times.  Sc 3, Bc.  *Sc in next 4 st, Bc.*  Repeat * 3 times, Sc 5. 


Row 9 (WS): Sc 7, Bc in next st.  *Sc in next 4 st, Bc.* Repeat * 7 times.  Sc. 


Row 11 (WS): Sc 9, Bc in next st. *Sc in next 4 st, Bc.*  Repeat * 2 times.  Sc 5, Bc. *Sc in next 4 sts, Bc*.  Repeat * 2 times.  Sc 9.


Row 13 (WS): Sc 11, Bc in next st.  *Sc in next 4 st, Bc.*  Repeat * 2 times.  Sc in next st.  Bc.  *Sc in next 4 st, Bc.* Repeat * 2 times.  Sc 11. 


Row 15 (WS): Sc 13, Bc in next st.  *Sc in next 4 st, Bc.*  Repeat * 1 time.  Sc 7.  Bc.  *Sc in next 4 st, Bc.*  Repeat * 1 time.  Sc 13. 


Row 17 (WS): Sc 15, Bc in next st.  *Sc in next 4 st, Bc.*  Repeat * 1 time.  Sc 3, Bc.  *Sc in next 4 st, Bc.* Repeat * 1 time.  Sc 15.


Row 19 (WS): Sc 17, Bc in next st. *Sc in next 4 st, Bc.* Repeat * 3 times.  Sc 17. 


Row 21 (WS): Sc 19, Bc in next st.  Sc in next 4 st, Bc.  Sc in next 5 st, Bc.  Sc in next 4 st, Bc.  Sc 19.


Row 23 (WS): Sc 21, Bc in next st.  Sc in next 4 st, Bc.  Sc in next st.  Bc.  Sc in next 4 st, Bc.  Sc 21. 


Row 25 (WS): Sc 23, Bc in next st. Sc in next 7 st, Bc.  Sc 23. 


Row 27 (WS): Sc 25, Bc in next st.  Sc in next 3 st, Bc.  Sc 25. 


Row 29 (WS): Sc 27, BC in next st, Sc 27. 


Row 31 (WS): Sc 25, Bc in next st.  Sc in next 3 st, Bc.  Sc 25. 


Row 33 (WS): Sc 23, Bc in next st. Sc in next 7 st, Bc.  Sc 23.


Row 35 (WS): Sc 21, Bc in next st.  Sc in next 4 st, Bc.  Sc in next st.  Bc.  Sc in next 4 st, Bc.  Sc 21.


Row 37 (WS): Sc 19, Bc in next st.  Sc in next 4 st, Bc.  Sc in next 5 st, Bc.  Sc in next 4 st, Bc.  Sc 19.


Row 39 (WS): Sc 17, Bc in next st. *Sc in next 4 st, Bc.* Repeat * 3 times.  Sc 17. 


Row 41 (WS): Sc 15, Bc in next st.  *Sc in next 4 st, Bc.*  Repeat * 1 time.  Sc in next 3 st, Bc.  *Sc in next 4 st, Bc.* Repeat * 1 time.  Sc 15.


Row 43 (WS): Sc 13, Bc in next st.  *Sc in next 4 st, Bc.*  Repeat * 1 time.  Sc in next 7 st.  Bc.  *Sc in next 4 st, Bc.*  Repeat * 1 time.  Sc 13. 


Row 45 (WS): Sc 11, Bc in next st.  *Sc in next 4 st, Bc.*  Repeat * 2 times.  Sc in next st.  Bc.  *SC in next 4 st, Bc.* Repeat * 2 times.  Sc 11. 


Row 47 (WS): Sc 9, Bc in next st. *Sc in next 4 st, Bc.*  Repeat * 2 times.  Sc in next 5 sts, Bc. *Sc in next 4 sts, Bc*.  Repeat * 2 times.  Sc 9.


Row 49 (WS): Sc 7, Bc in next st.  *Sc in next 4 st, Bc.* Repeat * 7 times.  Sc 7. 


Row 51 (WS): Sc 5, Bc in next st.  *Sc in next 4 st, Bc.*. Repeat * 3 times.  Sc 3, Bc.  *Sc in next 4 st, Bc.*  Repeat * 3 times, Sc 5. 


Row 53 (WS): Sc 3, Bc in next st.  *Sc in next 4 st, Bc.* Repeat * 3 times.  Sc 7, Bc. *Sc in next 4 st, Bc*. Repeat * 3 times, Sc 3.


Row 55 (WS): Sc 1, Bc in next st.  *Sc in next 4 st, Bc.* Repeat * 3 times. Sc 11. Bc. *Sc in next 4 st, Bc*.  Repeat * 3 times, Sc 1. 


Row 56 and 57 (RS): Sc across and on row 57, fasten off yarn.


Back Pieces:


For the back of the pillow you are going to make two rectangles of different size.  One of them will be slightly longer than the other, so that when we Sc it all together, they will overlap and that will secure your pillow insert.


Piece #1:


Chain 57. 


Row 1: In the third chain from hook, Hdc.  Then, Hdc in every chain across. 55 st.


Row 2: Ch 2, turn, then Hdc in each st across.


Rows 3-26: Repeat row 2.  Fasten off.


Piece #2:


Chain 57.  Work as for piece #1 but for only 18 rows and fasten off. 


Piecing together:


With the right side of the bobbles facing out, put piece #1 (longer piece) on the back and layer the shorter piece on top of that.  Attach your yarn to any corner, then single crochet through all layers of fabric all the way around the square until you get back to the beginning and all pieces are secured to each other.  In each corner, make 3 single crochets. Weave in ends, and you’re done! 


CHART:



Sunday, June 2, 2024

Sourdough , started

I've been working on a new hobby for the last couple of months, which is making sourdough bread.  Sourdough is one of my favorite types of bread right up there with ciabatta, and I had always thought making sourdough was outside of my skill level.  Little did I know that sourdough isn't nearly as difficult as I had expected, and it's also an extremely rewarding hobby because I can share the spoils with family and friends!  There's just something really magical and comforting about popping bread in the oven and filling the house with that fresh-baked bread scent, and dipping a warm slice into olive oil or spreading butter on top.

My second loaf
My first go-round with my starter ended in failure, with the starter collecting mold and having to be tossed.  Since then, I learned to use a glass jar, swap the starter into a new jar every so often, and maintain the cleanliness of the container meticulously.  

The starter I'm working from has been about a three-week project.  I started with 100g of AP flour and lukewarm water, then after each discard I've been doing 75g of each.  Last week I finally had multiple days in a row of bubbly, doubled starter, which meant it was ready to bake, so I grabbed my cast iron skillet and got to work.  I was a little bit intimidated by the idea of hand-kneading the sourdough, so instead I have been using my stand mixer with no problem.  Most people online seem to be using a dutch oven, which I don't have yet.  That may have to be the next investment in my sourdough journey. 

On Facebook, I'm in a sourdough group, and those folks are SERIOUS about their bread!  The benefit of being in the group with them has been all kinds of knowledge imparted on me by them, as well as seeing other beginners' mistakes and learning from them.  The group has also been a big source of inspiration for different flavors and designs for the bread, which I am looking forward to trying out for myself. 

This may be my new addiction.  I LOVE sourdough and I don't care who knows it!! 


Wednesday, May 1, 2024

knitting diary 05.01.24

I have been stewing a post for a couple of months containing some items I finished or was almost done with, but at this point, because I have procrastinated some of the projects a little too long, I am just going to write a knitting diary instead of holding on to a draft.  Hoping to finish a few more things to put in that post soon so that I can share something more interesting than just a diary!

My current projects are smaller, including a collection of pillow covers I have been making for my parents' couches.  My mom specifically requested 9 pillows in 3 shades of blue, so 3 of each.  Here is one of them; I made 2 more but didn't photograph them.  I also made some pink covers for her decorative bed pillows, which I took hasty photos of just to have them in my Ravelry page.  

Take it from me, they do look much nicer when they have a pillow inside of them and aren't in awkward low light! 


This will be in my next post about finished objects, but I completed a. really fun test knit for Crow & Finch, which has now become one of my favorite finished objects and I have been wearing it to everything.  It was made using - you guessed it - Knit Picks yarn! 

I can't wait to have more stuff to show off on my blog but I figured for the sake of keeping it active and not looking like I dropped it (again), I would write out some of what I've been working on! 

Wednesday, February 7, 2024

knitting diary 02.07.24

 I think all crafters have one (or maybe more?) project that they have had in the background for a while, something they just haven't finished for one reason or another, that they're working on periodically.  For me that has been Fog Fall by Anke Telschow.  


Let me preface by saying I love this pattern, I think the finished object is going to be really lovely and I can't wait to wear it.  The real block for me on this pattern has simply been the number of stitches.  At this time I'm working on the lower body in the round which is going to go up from 304 stitches to an increase of 324 stitches, and being that I'm using Rowan Fine Art which is a light fingering weight yarn, it feels like no progress is made every time I finish a row.  So maybe I should just be blaming my own impatience....

This is definitely a "background" project for me.  By that I mean I work on it when 1) my other project(s) start to lose my attention and I need to take a break; 2) a project gets finished and I'm blocking it or just in between new projects; and 3) when I see it and remember how close I am to the finish line on it, and get the inspiration to work on it with renewed vigor. 

I started this one in 2021, then frogged it and restarted it last April.  Part of the problem originally was that I got really confused about the instructions and had a really messy pair of shoulders, and I disliked how it was looking so I wound up taking it apart and reworking it.  This was definitely the right decision because I'm really loving the WIP right now.  It looks like it's going to become a staple piece of my wardrobe. 

What's your back burner project?

Wednesday, January 31, 2024

knitting diary 01.31.24

If you've been crocheting or knitting long enough, you've likely heard someone talk about "second sock/sleeve syndrome", which is when you finish one sleeve/sock on your project and feel accomplished only to feel the shadow of the next one looming over you as a barrier towards the completion of your work.

What happens when the shadow is the first sleeve, and the issue hovering over your head is that you have to convert a flat pattern repeat into one in-the-round?

I'm finding that out as I work on Joy Friedman's Pass the Honey Cardigan.  Don't get me wrong!  This pattern is really fun, very simple, and is going to be a joy to wear.  The problem I'm facing is that after over a month's worth of working the mock honeycomb stitch flat, I've now started on the sleeves, which are all in the round, and my brain canNOT wrap itself around this concept. 

Actual photo of my project being "tinked"
back to fix the mistakes on the repeat.
I can't wait to finish this project, though!  The design is so simple to create but looks so intricate.  This is something I would even recommend to a new knitter, because the techniques used (slip stitches, k2tog, slip slip knit, to name a few) are not difficult to learn and are vital to your advancement in the craft. 

The yarn I'm using for this is actually Lion Brand Pound of Love, which is one of my all time favorite acrylics.  It works really well, it's really soft, and best of all, it comes in this gigantic ball that sometimes you can get one whole project out of - no need to break yarn or weave in hundreds of ends!!  If this sounds sponsored, it unfortunately isn't, but I would write a song for them or get Lion Brand's logo tattooed on my back if it meant they would send me some freebies.  (Okay, not really...but I do really love their products).

Looking forward to sharing photos of the finished object when it's done!  


Thursday, January 25, 2024

Things I've made since my last post...

Wow!  I haven't used my blog since 2015.  Honestly, I forgot about it and then college became a thing and I had to focus on that.  Since last using my blog, I graduated and got married - and, more relevant to the blog - I improved a lot in my skills and have made a lot of pretty garments!  I had fallen away from crafts for a while since I was so busy, but in 2021 my best friend asked me to teach her how to crochet.  Little did she know she helped me reignite my interest!  So while she crocheted her first project, I got started on some of my own that had been sitting in my Ravelry queue.

The very first thing I made that re-started my passion for crochet and knit was the Habitat Cardigan, by Jess from Make and Do Crew.  For any beginners out there, I highly recommend this pattern, as it was easy to understand and made a really cute, really beautiful finished project.  

For this, I used a pack of Loops and Threads Value Yarn that has been discontinued.  I bought this one several years ago at Michael's when I saw it in the sale section. It's very soft and somewhat silky, which causes a really cool drape and an interesting fabric.  I have another color way of it, that I may use in the future for a different type of project.


For my next project I decided I wanted something with techniques I was not familiar with.  I decided to knit Nutmeg Ginger by Alicia Plummer (red sweater at right).  Alicia publishes some of my favorite patterns on Ravelry due to their simple but beautiful designs. 

Truthfully I wish I had used a different yarn, because Caron Simply Soft doesn't often allow a lot of breathing room and can feel really hot as a garment.  It works well for many types of projects, but I'm not sure I would use it for this kind of pullover in the future.

With that said, I used Caron Simply Soft again in my next project (below) which turned into somewhat of a mess.  I made Vienna Sweater by LCK Crochet, which was meant to be a pullover but turned into a dress.  I'm still not really sure what caused the yarn to grow like this, but it was both a mistake and a happy accident.  While the finished object turned out completely incorrect, I still wore it with gusto, I just had to have a tank top underneath and be cognizant of the holes that crochet causes.

I actually was looking at this object the other day and considered frogging it and using the yarn for something else.  The only thing that stops me from doing it is thinking of all the time I spent making it; but at the same time, if I'm not wearing it because I'm not 100% happy with it, why not turn it into something I would like better?

Caron Simply Soft does have beautiful drape, but it is killed easily by machine washing.  I don't know if hand washing and blocking could have saved this project, but I did get many wears out of it, so I don't consider it a fail.



Speaking of something that I spent a lot (and I mean a LOT) of time working on...I finally finished Smokin' by Jared Flood for my father.  This thing has quite a backstory.  I started making this in October, 2015.  Like I said before, college was becoming a thing at the time and I didn't have enough hours to do my homework and work on this project for him, no matter how often he asked me how it was doing.  I definitely felt guilty about how long it was taking. 

Then the years passed by and I only had marginal process on it.  In 2020 I moved out and got married, and brought the old project with me.  In August 2021, I finally took it out and decided I was going to do this.  I completely unraveled the project and started it from scratch so that I could correct every mistake I had made in the original work.

I finished it in November 2021 and gave it to him for Christmas.  He was so excited!  My only wish was that I had done it in a different size.  You see, my gauge is really off.  Always.  I usually have to go down needle sizes to achieve correct gauge.  I'm not sure what possessed me to ignore this and continue making the sweater, but in any case, I wound up giving him a sweater that was at least two sizes too big and for some reason was really long.  I offered to redo it but he said it was fine and he would wear it around the house to keep him warm.  Here it is, at right, in all its forest green, soft and warm glory!


This was not the only present I had made this year though!  I also made for my mom another gorgeous pattern by Alicia Plummer: Woodstove Season.  

Somewhat ironically, this one turned out a little too small.  I definitely can't win.  In this case I did pay attention to gauge and I think I just chose the wrong size.  Well, in any case, I did take this one back from her and I have it on my list to re-make in the correct size.





There were many smaller projects in 2021 that I loved but there are certainly too many to recount in a post.  I have linked my Ravelry page on the side bar, for anyone who just wants to friend me or browse what I've made!

However in 2022 I made some of my favorite items to date.  Firstly, I made this poncho which is now my favorite thing I've made for myself.

This pattern is called IGLO poncho and was made by Lone Kjeldsen. This pattern was a joy to make.  It had techniques I was not familiar with, interesting design, and ultimately resulted in an amazing finished object.  I worked feverishly on this one to make sure I finished it before my anniversary trip with my husband, so I could wear it and feel happy and proud of my increased skills.  I can't stress enough how much I love this poncho.  I actually have plans to make another one in a different color when I get through some of my current queue.  This was made from Knit Picks Palette - Knit Picks is one of my favorite yarn companies, by the way - and the color way was "Shire Heather" which I felt was the perfect name for something I could see myself frolicking near the woods in...

However, that would not be the only thing I was absurdly proud of that year!  I decided to challenge myself even further and make a cabled sweater dress to wear for Christmas. Honeycomb Aran Dress had been in my Ravelry queue for SIX years at that point, so I was really digging something out of my queue to make something beautiful.

Honeycomb Aran Dress

It took me 3 months and I finished it literally right before Christmas Mass.  I had so much excitement and pride to wear this one as it was one of the most intense projects I'd ever completed at that point.  I made this with Cascade 220 Superwash in color "Celery". 

I literally seamed this on December 23rd and it was even a little wet from the blocking when I seamed it, which I know is a crime against knit and crochet work but I was WAY too excited to take my time on this one.  Considering the next day I would need it for church, I had to get it done expeditiously.  This one turned out really well, it was slightly oversized but considering the other objects I have showed that were the wrong size, I wasn't really that upset at this one being a few inches too big.

This year had more handmade presents, one of them being this giant crocheted blanket (that I charted myself!) for my brother.  While all of us have since left the Washington DC area, we all remain huge fans of the Nationals and the Caps.  My brother specifically is a big Nationals fan, and this logo is a family favorite, so I found an image on Google of the logo, put it into StitchFiddle, and charted a very ambitious color work project.  I was actually making this alongside the green sweater dress, and at one point I had to completely stop the sweater so I could get ahead on this project.  I had never done so much color work and honestly the idea of weaving in all of the ends was really daunting, so at some point I decided I would just go to the craft store, pick up some fleece, and sew it on as a backing.  I think this actually made it turn out way better anyway, as it added extra warmth.

With 2023 came some more really fun projects.  First finished object was this baby blanket I made for my childhood best friend and her newborn.
This project is called Adeline Blanket by bright and scrappy and was actually a free Ravelry download, so on top of it being super cute and simple, it was free to boot. 

For this one I used Caron Cotton Cakes, and once washed this yarn turned into the softest and cutest blanket. I highly recommend this one for any baby blanket gifters out there. 

This blanket was such a good start to 2023.  While in 2023 I didn't complete a high volume of projects, I spent a lot of time on a handful of really meaningful or intricate ones.  This year I started using Yarnpond, which is a free site that allows designers to post their patterns for pattern testers.  As someone who likes proofreading, trying new things, and of course free patterns, I had to get in on it. 

The first thing I tested was Boudica Tunic by Marion Muirhead, which was a beautiful mock neck cabled pullover.  Unfortunately I did unravel this one later as I wasn't really happy with how it turned out.
It isn't the fault of the designer or even of myself this time.  I really didn't like how the yarn sat on me and I wound up taking this one back apart and I currently have the yarn in a box listed on Mercari for sale.  The yarn was Knit Picks Brava Worsted, which I normally love, but I think the color threw me off and that it didn't really play nice with the cables.  I actually still have this project listed as completed in Ravelry, rather than frogged, because I didn't want the designer to know I took it apart, as I loved the pattern and didn't mean any offense.  I might try it again with a different yarn, because I do really like the design of the cables and the shape of the top. 

My next test knit was Campus Pullover by LAM Designs, and this one is an example of my gauge getting away from me again, I think.  While the gauge lengthwise was correct, I think my stitches were too tall, and it wound up as a dress again. 

That said, this turned out to be a happy accident, because I really love the way this yarn looks in this pattern and how warm the sweater is, in spite of my mistakes. 

I made some pillow covers as well as Christmas gifts for my mother, but much of 2023 was devoid of any finished objects because we were moving out of state plus enjoying some family time on vacations.  Any time between traveling and packing up our place was spent working on what I would consider the current crown jewel of my knitting work...



St. Brigid by Alice Starmore! 

This one was a request from my mother in law.  She bought the yarn for me and told me to take my time and that she could be patient. Well, thankfully she is indeed very patient; this one took me from March all the way to December, and for a few reasons. 

1) This pattern is older, not super old but it was old enough that some of the techniques were explained in different ways than I was familiar, so I had to get a new understanding of certain aspects of knitting.

2) This pattern is in a physical book, which I had to track down, then scan into a digital file the pattern so that I could follow it on my iPad (which lets me write on it, something I would of course never to do a physical book...)

3) The construction technique of this one is to make it in 5 pieces, block each piece, and then seam them by hand.  This is my least favorite construction technique because sitting on the floor really strains my back and neck, and since we had only just moved when I finished the pieces, I didn't have a table or any platform to seam it on, so I was leaning over it for a few nights in a row on the floor, trying to get it done before my spine decided to give out on me.

For this pattern I used Berroco Vintage DK, in color way Douglas Fir.  I have been wanting to work with this yarn for years now and had just never found the project I wanted to use it for, but when she and I were brainstorming what sweater to make her, she saw this pattern and this yarn and it was an instant "YES!". 

So while 2023 didn't have a ton of finished objects, it definitely had a lot of growth and accomplishments.  I did start several projects towards the end of the year that I am planning to finish sometime in the next month or so of 2024, things that were half finished in 2023 but that got put aside to work on more important work.  I'm hoping to start using this blog more often and I am also planning to start learning how to make my own patterns!  Hopefully things keep up! 

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Grandma's Blanket - my first pattern!~

HEY EVERYONE! Guess who made her own pattern!
(Scroll to the bottom for downloadable version)

I was making a blanket for my grandma for her birthday, but I had not been able to find a pattern I liked. So, I figured, "I'm getting good at crochet. Surely I can make a nice beginner pattern up just for this project." But it turned out so well that I decided to share with everyone else.

Here she is. A gorgeous blankie.

If you want to make this blanket for yourself, here's the pattern I devised. Please show me if you make this pattern! I'm really proud of it and even if it's not something totally new and exciting to everyone, I'm really happy that I managed to create my own pattern.

Abbreviations:
Ch: Chain
Sk: Skip
St: Stitch
DC: Double Crochet (in the UK, known as TR or Treble crochet)

Materials:
1 ball of Lion Brand© Pound of Love (or equivalent yardage of other soft yarn, about 1,020 yards/932 m)
1 J (6.00 mm) Crochet Hook
Yarn/tapestry needles for finishing

Pattern:
Chain 104.
Row 1: DC in each st across, ch 2, turn.

Row 2: DC in each st across, ch 2, turn.

Row 3: DC in first st, then ch 1 and skip the next st, and DC into the one after it. Repeat this for the entire row. Ch 2, turn.

Row 4: Continue doing the same thing as row 3. Ch 2, turn.

Row 5-30: On Row 5, DC in each st across as in Row 2, ch 2, then turn and do the same thing on Row 6. Basically, you want to alternate every two rows, so you will have 2 rows similar to row 3 and 4, and two rows similar to row 1 and 2. Continue this pattern for 30 rows or however many or few you want, depending on length you want.

FINISHING: To finish, tie off your ends and take the tapestry needle. Thread your ends and weave them through the work so that they can no longer be seen.
Completed length will vary, but the one I made measured 35 1/2 inches (about 90 cm) long.

Download the PDF (printer friendly):
download now

memories of time gone by

My grandmother passed away recently. When we went to the funeral, there was a day where we went to her assisted living room to clean up ever...