wheelchair wrap

I've completed another Wheelchair Wrap / shawl. This Red Heart Super Saver Jumbo yarn in Icelandic is very nice. It's rough like RHSS is, but there was only one spot I cut out and that was on the second skein I started. These are 10 oz (482 yds) skeins. I used all of one and part of another. The pattern at Interweave says 12 ozs. You can also find the Susan Coes pattern here. 

I used an H hook. The shawl came out perfectly at 18" at the longest points (center back, for example).

This is a really simple pattern and goes pretty quickly. I did this one in a few days. It's even small enough at the beginning to take along. I took it with me to work on while waiting at the hospital and got a good bit done. I added a round of single crochet all around to give the edges a finished look. I came real close to adding another round of picots but decided against it for this one. Maybe the next one. :-)

There's not enough left of the second skein obviously for another one, but if I'd bought three skeins I could have gotten another one with the same yarn. I think there is enough left, however, for a scarf. Of course, it could be used for hats or squares or anything else.

Happy crocheting!
Sandie

shawl and doily

Off my hooks ...

Last night I finished this wheelchair wrap. The original pattern by Susan Coes used to be on the CrochetMe site. It has been changed to Interweave Crochet. The new link there is https://www.interweave.com/article/crochet/crochet-wheelchair-wrap-pattern/ I also found it in a 2008 copy at Susan Coes Wheelchair Wrap 

I altered the pattern slightly because the Brava Sport worsted I used is a little thinner - more a light worsted - and I wasn't sure how far what I had would go. I had the most skeins of Brava Sport Worsted Almond, a couple of full skeins and some partial skeins, probably left over from a Who scarf. 

I worked 33 rows in the pattern stitch and one row single crochet for a finished edge. That got me to the 18" needed. I did run out of yarn about halfway through the sc edging but found a small skein of leftover, probably from the same batch as it matched perfectly. 

This is a nice pattern, very simple. I have made quite a few of these. 

I also made a simple doily for a friend. I used Marinke Slump's mandala rug pattern but used an F hook and Knit Picks Simple Cotton sport yarn. 

Happy crocheting!
Sandie

filet cross shawl in progress

I thought I'd update you on the cross shawls. I put aside the puff stitch one because really that size is not good for a shawl unless you're very thin. (I don't remember back when I was a size 3 but maybe it would work...) I will need to work on it when I have more time to do a large single crochet project (which will probably be a long time). However, the dc filet cross goes quickly. Once I figured out the number I needed for the foundation chain for the size I wanted I went to town on it. 

My plan is to do several stripes, alternating where the filet crosses begin.

This project is unique in another way. It is the first time I work a project beginning a long chainless foundation, also called foundation double crochet. I'm not saying it took me less time than just making a long chain and working my first row into it LOL. There were hiccups along the way because I had to be fully satisfied with the look of it. I think I could go faster once I get the hang of the process.

I had not fooled around with the chainless foundation in a while since I have no problem working chains and going into the chain, so I referenced my video on the foundation sc and also one on the foundation dc worked by Maggie of Maggie's Crochet. In my video my daughter works the stitch and gives an excellent explanation. She uses the foundation stitch often in her own work. As I get more proficient with it, I may do so myself. :-) Of course the sc and the dc are not the same, but the idea is the same. You create the chain and the stitch in the same movements.

Why did I use the foundation dc for this project? No particular reason. It occurred to me this might be a good time to try it, so I did. :-) Working 197 chains and working into the chains would work just fine.

I worked 195 foundation double crochets for this one. I didn't measure it, but I'm estimating it is at least 60" wide which is a pretty good size for a shawl. The two rows I have worked so far are about 9" high. There are 8 crosses on the first row and 7 on the second. (You can't see them all in the picture.) Because I want to begin and end the same, I will probably work 3 more stripes which will make it approximately 22" or 23". We'll see how it works out, but you know you'll be one of the first to know. :-)

I am using Vanna's Choice Colonial Blue and am on my third skein. I am using my trusty I Inox hook.

I will be working on this project for the next couple weeks most likely, along with other smaller projects. Since I am writing the pattern, it takes a little longer to figure things out - and even then I sometimes get it wrong. heh

Happy crocheting!
Sandie

hat and links

I got sidetracked yet again. I'm still making adult hats and prayer cloths, but there was a call put out for some baby hats. Since I had two skeins of Red Heart Kids periwinkle, I thought I'd make some of those. Now I wasn't sure just how big a newborn's head is - it's been a whole year since my grandson was that tiny! I guestimated and hope these will do.

They are different sizes. I worked at least one 12, 24, 36, 48 then even. Then I worked a couple to 36 and then even. I worked a couple 12, 24, 36, 42 and even. And I think I have a couple worked 12, 24, 36, 45. They are simple dc hats with a sc rim. I wasn't very creative but they should keep a little one's head warm and the color is really pretty. If I felt confident in the size I could put a pretty rim at the end but these may need to be curled up to fit. I'm just not sure. I used an H hook for these.

I did look at a couple of sizing charts so I think they will be good. Do I sound positive? LOL

In other news, are you following the Red Heart 12 weeks of Christmas? I always enjoy seeing what they will come up with.

Also, I received an email from a young lady associated with Sheru Knitting and Crochet. I checked out the web site and they have some very good video tutorials. One in particular that I looked at was on making the popcorn. She demonstrated two different methods in one video, one of which I had never seen. Since the popcorn stitch is not my favorite stitch to work, perhaps this new method will bring me into the fold. There are 5 videos concerning the popcorn.

Another site that caught my interst this week was Naztazia.com . I just love the cancer ribbon scarf and shawl patterns that she has up right now. It is on my list to try. You can make these in different colors to represent the different types of cancer.

That's all for now.

Happy crocheting!
Sandie

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

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

wheelchair wrap

I was introduced to a new charity effort called The Firewalker Project on Facebook. The coordinator, Amanda, takes any size square and also "crocheted blankets, prayer shawls and chemo cap" which are given to cancer patients both in the hospital and those receiving outpatient treatments.

I had this shawl pattern I'd been wanting to try for quite some time, so I decided this was the time. 

The pattern is called Wheelchair Wrap and is at the CrochetMe web site.

I used an H hook. I used two skeins of I Love This Yarn Royal yarn (14 ozs) but one may not have been a full skein.

My shawl is about 21 1/2" from hill to hill and 17" top to bottom of one section. I didn't measure it all the way around. The web site says it is about 80" around the bottom edge. Mine was probably close to that since the other measurement is close - my 17" to her 18". 

The pattern was super easy. Once you had a couple rows going, you can easily see where the V stitch goes. You just have to make sure you don't miss the stitches before and after the V.

The row of (dc, ch 1, sk 1) gives it a nice added touch.

Both pics above are of the same shawl. The lighting is just different in the two rooms. The second picture gives a more realistic view of the color.

I started this Friday and finished it Sunday so it is not a very lengthy project if you have a few hours a day to work on it.

I am really pleased with the finished product and am thinking of making another one now that I know how much yarn it will take.

Happy crocheting!
Sandie