Saturday, September 20, 2014

front post stitch square

I didn't rework the back loops only square but I did do the Front Post Double Crochet square of the Stitch-cation. When I looked through the list for this link I thought I'd made a mistake and worked the square incorrectly, but as it happens there are three different front post squares on this afghan. The FPdc is one and that is the one I worked.

Here is my FPdc square.




My square is 10" x 10". It is like a waffle stitch, thick and cushy. It is not too difficult a pattern to do, but new crocheters need to watch that they do not miss the front post stitch which is sort of pushed back on the working row, and also not to add stitches by working the front post stitch and then working a dc in that same stitch. The dc goes in every other stitch and the front post goes in every other stitch. 

The other thing is to know whether you are on a 2 dc start row or a fp start row (my words). If you pay attention, you shouldn't have any trouble. If you do, however, Mikey has a video demonstration. I didn't look at it, but he normally does an excellent job.

The yarn I used for this was Red Heart Soft Grape, just as I used in the other square. 

I have started the next square (for me) which is the Crossed Stitch Square using RHS Wine.I don't know if I'll have enough for two squares as I've used part of this skein for other projects. We shall see.


Happy crocheting!
Sandie

Friday, September 19, 2014

stitch-cation

I saw a note on Crochet Crowd's Facebook about something called Stitch-cation. Now perhaps I did read about this during the summer or maybe I completely missed it, but in any case I don't remember it.

If you are like me, you might want to have a look at the site and accompanying pattern links.
http://thecrochetcrowd.com/stitch-cation/

I decided this would be a good thing to make with all my single skeins. I completed a granny square and was almost done with a second single crochet through back loops square when my nail caught on one of the first rows. :-(  I ripped it completely and trimmed that nail! What a disappointment. 

There are 10 squares, 10" each. They use an "H" hook but I made mine with an "I" hook as I was using Red Heart Soft yarn which is a thin worsted. For the actual CAL one had to make 2 of each square and it was a contest I think. For my purposes I am just going to try a few of the patterns and those I like might end up in an afghan or more likely lapghan. 

Here is the granny square I made. It is worked turning each round. The last round is dc in each stitch. If you can do a granny square, you can do this. It's pretty simple. Instructions are laid out for every round.



That's all for now. I hope to make more squares from the Stitch-cation. I certainly have enough square patterns if I want to add others to it.

Happy crocheting!
Sandie

Thursday, September 18, 2014

potholder by PixieHeartStrings

Sanderella's newsletter contained an invitation to make a nice potholder, design by Susan of Pixie Heartstrings. Susan has a post about it on her Facebook so I assume she has given permission to share the pattern but she does have it on her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/notes/pixie-heartstrings/old-mas-potholders/778818765496994 . She has other patterns in her Facebook notes as well. 

If you don't want to take time to make the potholder, you can buy one already made by Susan herself at PixieHeartstring's Etsy shop

I decided to make one and here it is. The pattern is super easy if you can do a ripple or chevron. It's basically just sc with 3 sc at the point. Easy peasy. I plan to make another one or more myself. I think I will do a shorter chain on my next one as my sc in the ring did not cover the ring. Or I could make more sc I guess since those are not really used in the making of the ripple. Another idea would be to use a plastic ring there. 


Last night, I watched TV and did not even crochet a single thing. That almost never happens! LOL I have a lot of yarn but it's all either one skein of a color or sport yarn which is not as good for things like homeless scarves which I enjoy making. Maybe I just need to make another Who scarf. :-)

We'll see what calls out to me next. 

Happy crocheting!
Sandie