Doctor Who baby lapghan

I have not been good about keeping the blog up these days. I am sorry about that. It was so busy for a while and these are quiet days. I guess I am grateful for the lull. :-)

I thought I'd update on the lapghan/baby afghan. I've finished two strips and begun the last one.

The basic pattern I am using was inspired by the "inches" pattern on DoctorWhoScarf . I did not measure inches. I just took the idea and chose to use 4 rows for every inch Gene listed, even though that was not going to be a physical inch in my strip. It gave me a guide to start which was very helpful. (Gene's pattern is for knitted scarves, fyi.)

The main thing to remember in making this particular afghan is that you have to follow the stripe pattern remembering that you are working "up" so to speak. I rewrote my pattern with that in mind. I'm not explaining that well. The pattern starts with the purple/burgundy. For my first strip I began there and worked through to a camel stripe. I didn't finish that stripe but ended the first strip there. For the second strip, I had to work backwards. So I began with graphite and ended with the finish of the camel stripe. That way the camel stripes were next to one another and continued the "scarf" pattern. Then for the last strip I began by finishing the graphite section which was at the "bottom" of my 2nd scarf strip. It sounds complex when you read it but in reality it is obvious when you're working it.

Perhaps the picture can explain it better.

I have a few things in mind to try next. I want to make a one piece following the stripe pattern. The tricky thing with that will be to figure out how wide to make it so it looks right.

I also want to do one with double crochet. I have several ideas about how to do that.

I am enjoying working with the lighter weight yarn. I think it does justice to the pattern better than the worsted yarns. The smaller stitches, to me, are more closely in line with the knitted stitches. Of course, this particular yarn comes from the UK and mailing costs are much higher when buying from overseas. I lucked out with these skeins as they were had a free shipping offer at the time. I wouldn't hesitate to buy from Deramores again though. They were fast and accurate. The yarn is wonderful. No problems with it at all thus far.

You'll notice in the picture there is some turning at the corners. This will be fixed as the strips are joined together and an edging added.

Happy crocheting!
Sandie

DW scarves

It seems as though with some winter-like weather I've been moving more slowly than normal. That is not to say my "normal" is fast. LOL In any case, I have still been crocheting though perhaps not with the speed I normally accomplish my projects.

Here's what's been on my hooks.

I am still working on the Season 18 Doctor Who scarf with the Lion Brand Suede discontinued yarn. I have about 29" done so that's a bit more than the 11" I showed you last time. I sewed in some of the tails and will probably do a bit more of that before moving on. I could have worked over them but with this yarn I don't find that works as well. It seems to pull the sides in. Could be something I'm doing unconsciously.
 

I also started a Doctor Who season 12 baby/lap afghan. I'm trying this in what I think is an unusual way. heh I divided up the total number of rows into 3 sections (173 rows in each section). I am short 2 rows total but I figured I would just add a couple rows somewhere to even the columns out.

I used the 4 rows to an inch for worsted yarn a while back and that took me close to the finished size a normal scarf would be, but for this scarf I wanted it smaller. Even though I was using a thinner yarn and smaller hook, I kept to the 4 rows per inch. Whether that turns out to be a good idea, well .... we'll see.

I finished the first section, which is about 34" I think. Not a bad size for a baby afghan or small lapghan.

The yarn I am using for most colors is Stylecraft DK Special which I purchased from Deramores in the UK. This is my first non-worsted scarf and I really like how this is working out. It's lighter and the stitches are smaller, more in line with knitted stitches I think.

What I plan to do - I say PLAN because you never know how plans will work out, eh? - is to continue the pattern in the next 2 strips. So it will be ONE scarf pattern, worked into one afghan.

Why, you might ask, am I doing this? LOL Well, long ago my husband said to me "you should make an afghan in that pattern". Then a bit later my daughter said to me "you should make an afghan in that pattern". I am a bit thick but I finally got the message. However, I have a queen size bed and really single crochet?? How long would THAT take? LOL

I wanted to test the waters first and what better method than in a small afghan. I thought about using double crochet but in case it did end up being used as an actual baby afghan, I wanted close knit stitches. I was thinking it could also be used as a lapghan though it's a little small as it is turning out. I didn't realize how much difference the DK yarn would make in overall size since I've not worked with it before. It is, however, a very nice yarn. I wish they sold it stateside.

Here are the exact colors I'm using, all purchased from UK except the Knit Picks.

Purple - Stylecraft Special DK Burgundy
Camel -  Stylecraft Special DK Camel
Mustard - Big Value shade 671 (thinner than rest)
Rust - Stylecraft Special DK Copper
Grey - Stylecraft Special DK Graphite
Greenish Brown - Stylecraft Special DK Khaki
Bronze - Knit Picks sport Sienna (too dark, not enough red)

I chained 35 and am using a G hook. I have not even used a complete skein yet in any of the colors. Skeins are measured 322 yards. No ounces are listed but I weighed an unused skein on my postal scale and it said 3 1/2 ounces.

I used a different amount of each color due to the pattern specifics, but I measured the Camel and I have 2.6 ounces left. No, I'm not going to measure the yards. LOL

I have had NO problem with this yarn at all. No thick or thin sections, no knots to cut out. It's been a very nice change. The Big Value, though thinner than the Stylecraft, has also been no trouble so far.

Just for comparison, have a look at the difference between the DK yarn and the LB Suede chunky yarn.

I don't know if you can really tell from these pictures. I should have taken one closer up of the DK. The DK is 4 stitches to an inch with a G hook. The Suede is 4 stitches to 1 1/2" with a J hook.


I think with this yarn and hook that I could probably follow the Who knit pattern exactly for the original scarf in DK/sport and get the proper size. That's just a guess, of course. I may try it one day but buying DK yarn from UK is expensive. I still don't have a best brown in DK but this one will do okay. I'm not tremendously gung ho about having to have the exactly right shade though I do have my preferences. After all, if I was that picky I wouldn't be crocheting it, eh? The original, as you know by now, was knitted.

FYI, I ended up not making the other two items in the Hook & Needle club kit but my daughter made one. I will take a picture and share later.

Just to brag, daughter made this gorgeous afghan from a purchased pattern at Ravelry called Solas Caomh by Jodi Euchner.

I started to make one myself and decided I didn't have the patience for it. she did a fabulous job. This is one of the most beautiful afghans I've ever seen. Very complex. Heavy and warm.

That's it for now.


Happy crocheting!
Sandie

Hook Needle Club dishcloth

I took a break from the Who scarf - yeah, I know I just started it LOL - to make one of the projects in the Hook and Needle Club kit I had not gotten to yet. I decided to make the dishcloth and was surprised that it is a simple V stitch pattern with a single crochet multi-round edging. I chose to do a different edging on mine as you can see.

I worked a round of single crochet, then I worked a round of V stitch to match the body of the cloth. The finished size is 9" (worked with a G hook), a little smaller than the projected size in the pattern, but I personally prefer a smaller dishcloth.

There are a few other projects in the kit. I haven't decided which, if any, I'll pursue. Even though this was a simple pattern I've worked many times, it was still fun to make, a quick easy thought-free project.

The kit came with a generous 4 skeins Creme de la Creme Sandy Print cotton yarn so that made me pretty happy and I felt I got my money's worth with this one.


Happy crocheting!
Sandie

Season 18 Doctor Who scarf begun

It's been a while since I worked on a Who scarf, but I'm baaaacccckkkk. :-)

By the generosity of a new friend (thanks, Shelley) and Ebay, I have been able to accumulate what I hope is enough Lion Brand Suede Garnet, Eggplant and Spice to work the Season 18 scarf. This yarn is discontinued but was at one time thought a good replacement for the original chenille colors.

I chained 31 with am using a J hook.

I started it Tuesday. I had planned to carry my unused yarn for the one-off rows but I found this pulled in the work at that point so I've decided not to do that. I could sew over for a short bit but so far I've just been cutting to make the change.

The spice and garnet are very close in color, even in person. The spice is a bit more orange and the garnet more red but they are close. It would be easy to pick up the wrong one if you don't see them together. I'll have to be most careful, not that it really makes a big difference to anyone but the discerning Who fan.

The width is about 10" and I've got about 11" length done at this point in time.

I may alternate this project with others as time goes as it's a lengthy one with over 600 rows.


As always, I'll keep you posted.

Happy crocheting!
Sandie

Keepsake Coverup Baby Afghan

Today's finished project is a baby afghan. The pattern is the Keepsake Coverup in Quick and Cozy Afghans (Leisure Arts #102626) by Leisure Arts/ Oxmoor (Google Affiliate Ad). I have made this pattern many times with various yarns and hooks from a doll afghan to a full size worsted weight afghan. It is a quick pattern. I can remember finishing one in a weekend when in a rush for a baby gift.

Finished size for this one is about 35" square made with an I hook.

The top portion looks darker but that is because of the picture on the blanket underneath it.

closeup look

Edging

I did not follow the edging exactly. I did a round of single crochet on three sides and on the top I straightened out the shells. Then I worked the round of shells, sk 2, sc, sk 2 which put the pretty shells all the way around.

Yarn used is I Love This Yarn Iced Sugar. This variegated yarn is full of pretty pastel colors. My only complaint is one I know we have all had the last few years. Knots. Through the afghan I had no less than half a dozen knots I had to cut out. I didn't count them, but I know there were at least that many. I used about 3 1/2 skeins of yarn with each skein being 5 ounces, so I guess a total of about 18 ounces.

Now to figure which of the projects waiting in the wings I want to do next. :-)

Happy crocheting!

Sandie