Day: February 11, 2017

I am sure that you have seen the very popular Caron Cake yarn that was released earlier last year.  If you haven’t, it is a very long print worsted yarn made of 80% acrylic and 20% wool that is put up in a cake form of 383 yds or 350m.  There are a few patterns that work for this style of yarn but I thought that the world could use one more so I bought one cake and made a very long (think almost super, 82” x 11.5” or 210cm x 30cm) scarf.

I wanted something light but warm that would go with a winter coat or work as a light wrap if needed.  I also wanted to take advantage of the long colour changes so decided to work the scarf lengthwise rather than crosswise.  I do that often with long scarfs or wraps as I would rather work a long cast on and off than many, many, many rows.  Maybe it is just me (it is just me) but the work seems to go faster with fewer rows even though the number of stitches is likely close to the same.  The scarf took about fourteen hours for me to knit and I knit at a medium fast speed.

The colour I bought was Boston Cream, a mixture of cream to taupe that reminded me of Saturday afternoon lattes, my favourite treat.  You could make the scarf with any worsted weight yarn and still have a lovely accessory for winter.

The scarf is bordered with seed stitch for a no roll edge and the main section is a simple lace mesh that is just interesting enough to not be boring and still lets you knit and watch television or read.  The pattern is posted on Ravelry and is linked above or through my pattern page and is free, the best price of all; the lace is both written and charted.

I hope that you take advantage of knitting a scarf without any joins to weave in and that you like my pattern.  Let me know what you think and please, if you do take on this lovely project, post photos to your project page on Ravelry!

Size: 29cm x 208cm or 11.5” x 82”

Materials: one cake of Caron Cakes (350m or 383 yds) or the equivalent in any worsted weight yarn.

Tools: one circular 6.5mm or US 10.5 knitting needle, two stitch markers, and tapestry needle for weaving in ends.

Gauge: 14 stitches x 22 rows = 10cm or 4”.  Gauge is important only if you vary widely from this as your scarf may end up much bigger or smaller.  Close (2 stitches and rows) will be fine.

Note: if you wish a larger or smaller scarf, increase or decrease stitches and rows in even numbers to maintain the pattern.

Lace Pattern:

Row 1: YO, K2tog to end.

Row 2: Purl.

Row 3: K2tog, YO to end.

Row 4: Purl.

Seed Stitch:

Row 1: K1, P1 to end.

Row 2: P1, K1 to end.

Instructions:

Cast on 210 stitches; I used a cable cast on but any stretchy one will do.

Rows 1 to 3: Work 3 rows of seed stitch.

Rows 4 to 59: Working 5 stitches in seed stitch at the beginning and end of each row, work the 4 rows of the lace pattern 14 times.

Rows 60 and 61: Working 5 seed stitches at the beginning and end of each row, work rows 1 and 2 of the lace pattern.

Rows 62 to 64: Work 3 rows of seed stitch.

Cast off loosely!  Weave in your ends and block your new scarf.

 

All even numbered rows are wrong side.  Purl all even numbered rows.

4

O

∕

O

∕

3

2

∕

O

∕

O

1

∕

K2tog

O

Yarn Over

I have created another quick and easy summer crochet project that will thrill your favourite little one.  This time I made an accessory to carry all of the little treasures that need to come along with your kids where ever you go.

The Tiny Shoulder Bag is decorated with flowers but you can use your imagination to make it match the personality of the recipient.  How about a little bear face or bunny face appliqued to the flap?  You could make a bunch of these for party favours as they work up really quickly.

This pretty little shoulder bag can be made in a larger size to fit an older child by simply increasing the starting chain and adding more rows to the base and body to make it wider and taller.  I have included a formula for the increase to make sure that the flap fits properly.

I have made a few of these with odd bits of worsted weight acrylic; they are a great stash buster!

Material: 50g worsted acrylic yarn (I used Bernat Super Saver), scraps of worsted weight for flowers.

Tools: 5mm (H or 8) crochet hook, tapestry needle for weaving in ends.

Gauge: 8sc = 5cm. Exact gauge is not important.

Abbreviations:        sc = single crochet

sl st = slip stitch

 

Bag Body:  Begin at base of bag with ch13

Rnd 1: sc in 2^nd ch from hook, sc in each ch to 2^nd last ch, 3 sc in last ch, sc in opposite side of each ch back to beginning, 2sc in beginning ch, sl st to join.

Rnd 2: (ch1, 2sc) in same st, sc in each sc to sc before 3sc in one on previous row.  Work 2sc in 1^st sc, sc in next sc, 2sc in 3^rd sc, sc in each sc on opposite long edge to next increase group from the previous row, 2sc in sc, sc in sc, 2sc in sc, sl st to join.

Rnd 3: repeat row 2.

Rnd 4: ch1, sc in same st, 2sc in next sc twice, sc to last 5 sc, work 2sc in sc twice, sc in sc, 2sc in sc twice, sc to last two sc, 2sc in sc twice, sl st to join. 44 sc.

Rnd 5: ch1, sc in back loop of each sc around.  This will make a ridge where the base and side of bag meet. Mark the end of the round with a removable stitch marker or safety pin.

Work sc in each sc around until a total of 17 rounds have been worked.  I work in a spiral to eliminate the join line keeping track of the round end with a pin or marker.

On the 18th round, stop 2 sc before the marker, ch1 and turn to start the flap.

Flap:

Row 1 to 14: sc in sc below 18 times, ch1 and turn.

Row 15: skip 1^st sc, sc in sc below 16 times, sl st into last sc, ch1 and turn.

Row 16: Repeat row 15 working sc 14 times.

Row 17: Repeat row 15 working sc 12 times. Fasten off.

Strap: Attach the yarn to the sc at the top of the bag closest to the flap, ch 60 and attach with a sl st to the opposite side of the bag top closest to the flap.  Be careful not to twist the chain.

Row 1: sl st into next sc at bag edge from the flap and sc in each ch (60 sc), sl st into next sc at top of bag and then again into next sc, ch1 and turn.

Row 2: sc into each sc across, sl st into next sc on bag edge and then again into next sc, ch1 and turn.

Row 3: sc into each sc across, sl st into next sc on bag edge and fasten off.

Flowers:

Rnd 1: ch2, 9 sc in 1^st ch, sl st to join.

Rnd 2: *(ch2,dc, ch2, sl st) into 1^st sc, skip next sc* , repeat * to * around and fasten off

Make 2 to 4 flowers in the same or contrasting colours.

Finishing: Work a row of sc around edge of bag flap.  Work a row of crab st or backwards sc around edge of flap.  Work a row of crab st across the front of the bag.  Sew a Velcro closure or a snap on flap and bag front to close if desired.  Work flowers and sew to bag flap.  Weave in ends and lightly steam so flap and strap lie flat.