Spring Butterfly Wristlets

Here it is, the pattern I’ve been working on all month, the one I’ve been hinting about, my first pattern for sale! A great way to end National Crochet Month :)
A light lacy pair of arm warmers for spring. The butterfly stitches along the sides provide a place for your thumb, your watch, or neither. Keeps your arms warm in the cool spring breeze or in an over-cooled office. You’d be amazed at how much these can warm you up!  You can buy it on Ravelry but if you’re not a member you can purchase it here.

Tags: armwarmers, crochet, FO, NatCroMo, pattern
Category Crochet, Patterns |

Crochet Embellished Denim Skirt

So I had this old denim skirt… I remember when I was probably 14 or so begging my mom to buy it for me, promising that I would wear it often.  But I didn’t.  I realized that the reason I didn’t wear it was because the waist was too high, making it uncomfortable.  One day when I was in college, I wanted to wear it so I got out my scissors and just cut the top off. It fit perfectly and I wore it a lot more.

photo by armyofknitters

After college, and many washes, the length of the skirt shrunk a bit and I became more modest. I stopped wearing the skirt again because it was just a bit too short. So… I recently decided to use my new crochet skills and figure out a way to make the skirt longer… maybe I could crochet directly onto the skirt!
I found the Violet Beauregard skirt in the “Stitch ‘N Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker” book and thought it would be a perfect starting point. It’s a basic stitch pattern for the first half and then switches to a pretty lace pattern for the bottom half. I figured I could just use the lace part of the pattern.  Here’s basically what I did:

1. Find out how many stitches I need to start the lace section with (size medium = 180 stitches)
2. Measure around bottom edge of skirt (44 inches around)
3. 44 inches divided by 180 stitches = 4.09 — about 4 stitches per inch
4. Realize I can’t put 4 holes per inch into the fabric without compromising the structure so plan on putting multiple stitches into each hole.
5. 180 stitches divided by 3 = 60— so make 60 holes that will each hold 3 stitches.
6. Use a pen or pencil (something washable) to mark spots for holes spaced as evenly as possible.  (or, duh, mark on the back of the fabric.)  Divide into sections to make this easier (60 / 4 = 15 so 15 stitches per quarter length of skirt or about 1 hole every 3/4 of an inch)
7. Use a small metal hook or knitting needle to punch holes (I used a 5mm dpn)
8. Place 3 double crochet stitches into each hole, pulling the yarn up for each stitch to make room for the hem.
9. Continue with lace pattern… and viola!

I have now revived an old skirt, “upcycled” it into a new crocheted skirt that I didn’t have to add any sort of closure to.  The denim skirt has renewed life once again!

Tags: closure, crochet, FO, NatCroMo, skirt, techniques, tutorial, upcycle
Category Crochet, Tutorials |

So Many Patterns…

… so little time.

There has really been an influx lately of beautiful patterns that I want to crochet… but I just don’t have time (or money for yarn) to do them all.  In particular, I love Doris Chan’s patterns and she alone has 2 patterns in the Spring issue of Interweave Crochet, 3 patterns in the Tahki City Crochet Collection booklet, and she has a new book, Crochet Lace Innovations, coming out next month!

In addition there is a growing list of patterns by other designers that I’d really like to crochet.  Kristin Omdahl just released her DECO Crochet Skirt, Kristin TenDyke has a FREE crochet cardigan pattern available through Interweave Crochet, and Knit Picks just started selling independently designed crochet patterns (I’d really like to make this one.)  …And there are so many more, not to mention the few patterns I’m trying to finish writing.  I think a year from now everything I wear will be crocheted! lol

A peek at what I’m designing/writing:

Tags: crochet, free, magazines, NatCroMo, pattern
Category Crochet, Inspiration |