the swatch and the shawls

One of the topics that often comes up when talking about fiber crafts is gauge and swatching. The items I make don't usually require swatching or working to gauge so I generally don't worry about it, but I came across this article which speaks to that issue. It is geared to knitters but applies to all of us. As you can see if you read the article 12 different people worked a swatch from the same pattern, same needle, same yarn and came up with 12 different size squares. Why? It is because the personal tension of each person was well, personal. :-) Each one worked at a different tension, some tight, some tighter, some loose, some looser and some in between. Some might have made taller stitches, some narrow stitches, some wider stitches, some shorter stitches. You see where I'm going with this.

If your project has to fit properly, then you really need to make a swatch and follow through on what you learn from your swatch.

Now back to shawls. I finished two more of the wheelchair shawls. I didn't measure them but having used the same hook and worsted yarn, I figure they're at least approximately the same as the other two (the blue and the grey). Here are some photos. 

The yarn used was Red Heart Super Saver Frosty Green and Frosty Green Fleck. I enjoyed working with the fleck particularly as it was something a little different.

All have been sent off to find new homes.

Happy crocheting!
Sandie

Link share

Today is link day. I'm still making shawls, but will wait until I have two completed before posting them. They are the same pattern as before so nothing new there. 

Here is a hat pattern I saw that looked intriguing. I haven't made it but thought I'd share. If anyone has made it and has tips holler out. It is the Fold Down Hat. It probably appealed to me because it's been unusually cold here.

Since I've been making shawls, I looked for some shawl pins. I discovered an entire store full of shawl pins! It is the Shawl Pin Store. Imaginative name. LOL I have not ordered anything from them as of yet but they do have some nice things. These are my favorites. I think it is because the sticks look like Brittany knitting needles. :-)

This is not crochet but for Doctor who fans. It is quilt patterns featuring Doctor Who themes. The site is called Fandom in Stitches (designed by fans for fans). 

I realized I didn't put the link to the slouchy hat yesterday. I will go back and add it, but for those who have already visited the page, here it is. The site is Jenn Dimaria's Jenn Likes Yarn. The hat is the Really Easy Slouchy Beanie and it really is quite easy if you can work in the round.

The only change I made was in the first ch-2 for the first dc. I have gotten ito the habit of working my first stitch on a hat as (ch 1, dc - for my first dc of the round) so that is what I did, but the ch-2 works perfectly fine and I've made many hats that way as well. I learned that method when I did the Button beret  from the Adventures of the Gingerbread Lady. I have found this a very useful beginning as you are making your join right into a dc instead of a chain.

I also happened across this scarf/shawl/sweater book by Jenny King. I saw it over at Maggie's Crochet.  What I love about Maggie's Crochet is that she always shows a lot of pictures from the books she features so you really have a good idea of what you're getting.

Lastly, I may have already posted this site. Not everyone is into head wraps as opposed to full hats, but if you are, here ya go. There are some other free patterns and Jonna has patterns for sale at Etsy and Ravelry. The blog site is Frayed Knot. Her Sophia Slouch hat is one that intrigues me also. 

I think that's it. I'll have pics of the wheelchair shawls in the next few days.

Happy crocheting!
Sandie

wrap and hat

I really like this wheelchair pattern, so easy! I just need to figure out exactly how much yarn it takes in "real life". :-) IOW, with my tension and yarns.

Details. I used I Love This Yarn. The color was Greybeard. I had two partial skeins and a full skein. I ran out at the last couple rows but I found a leftover ball from the same skein and was able to finish it. 

I used an I hook. The "hill to hill" measurement was 22". The top to bottom of one section was 18" and the measurement around was approximately 90".

I have already started another one!

I also made a slouchy hat and ran into the same problem. I thought I had enough yarn, but unfortunately, not. There was no label so not sure which yarn this was.

I did finish a hat and it turned out okay but not as "slouchy" as it might have been. It would fit a medium size lady's head. It was a teensy bit large for me but I have a small head. I could have worn it though.

Happy crocheting!
Sandie