Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Party Cowl

 A Free Crochet Pattern


Are you in need of a quick last minute crochet gift. I have an easy cowl pattern for you.

I first came up with this pattern when I was asked to come up with some class ideas for when I was teaching crochet lessons at the art studio that I work at. We wanted to have some options for when students wanted to have a birthday party or shower at the studio. The idea was that each student that was participating in the party would learn how to make one strand of the cowl, then at the end of the lesson we would put it all together and give it as a gift to the host of the party.

This cowl is easy enough for a beginner and it can be worked up in any yarn or weight. There are a lot of possibilities. Each strand could be a different color or size. I am excited to see what other creative ways you can make this cowl.

Pattern

Yarn: Lion Brand: Homespun, bulky,  6.00 oz./170 g (185 yd/169 m): Cherry Blossom

Hook: size I/ 9 5.50MM

Notions: 1 button, thread, sewing needle.

Gauge: Each yo-yo is 3 in. The band is 3 inches by 12 inches.

Special stitches:

Picot: ch 4, sl st into st just made.
Joining picot: ch 2, sl st into picot of previous yo-yo, ch 2, sl st into st just made.

Notes: The cowl is made by making individual strands of yo-yos, that are formed into large loops. When you have the desired amount of strands you put them inside a band that is also crocheted.

Yo-yo strand

First yo-yo: With an adjustable ring, ch 3 (counts as the first dc here and throughout), (4 dc, picot, 10 dc, picot, 5 dc) in the adjustable ring, pull the ring tight and sl st into the first dc, for a total of 20 dc. Finish off. Weave in your ends.

2nd- 6th yo-yo: With an adjustable ring, ch 3, (4 dc, joining picot, 10 dc, picot, 5 dc) in the adjustable ring, pull the ring tight and sl st into the first dc. for a total of 20 dc. Finish off. Weave in your ends

Last yo-yo: With an adjustable ring, ch 3, (4 dc, joining picot, 10 dc, joining picot with the first yo-yo, to close up your loop, 5 dc) in the adjustable ring, pull the ring tight and sl st into the first dc. For a total of 20 dc. Finish off. Weave in your ends.

Continue making yo-yo strands till you have your desired amount. The model shown has 4 strands.


The band

Row 1: Ch 9, sc in the second ch from hook, sc in each ch across for a total of 8 sc.
Row 2: Ch 3, turn, dc in each sc across for a total of 8 dc.
Row 3: Ch 1, turn, sc in each dc across for a total of 8 sc.
Rows 4-15: Repeat rows 2 and 3.
Row 16: Repeat row 2.
Row 17: Ch 1, sc in the next 3 dc, ch 2, sk 2 dc, sc in the next 3 dc. (button hole just made.)
Row 18: Ch 3, dc in the next 2 sc, 2 dc in the ch 2 sp, 3 dc in the last 3 sc. Finish off. Weave in your ends.

Assembly

Add your button to the band using a needle and thread. Put the strand loops in the band and close the band up with the button.
More Free Crochet Patterns You Will Love

Crafty Containers

Lacy Japanese Lantern



Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Here We Go Do-Se-Do Nine Patch Quilt


I feel that I am on an on going quest to find ways to use up my scrap yarn. As you can remember some of my past scrap afghans. the colors of sunshine srapghan  and Always Pointing North Blanket After this new project I made a pretty big dent in my supplies. I have been on the look out for more yarn to fill my empty spaces. 

Most of my family quilts. I love looking at my great grandmas quilts and imaging what those scrap fabrics used to be before they became a quilt. I have a horrible time keeping a straight line, so I let them do all the quilting but sometimes I do feel left out. 

I came up with a quilt of my own that was crocheted. I can look at it and think, "I used that color yarn for so and so's project." I feel that there are a lot of memories tied into the many colors represented in this quilt.

 When you get started on a few of the squares you will see that your possibilities are endless. You could make every row a different color if you chose, or you could do mostly one color. You can also play around with how you place your 7 ch loops, you and make some sit behind the last row or in front. Be playful and try different possibilities.



Here We Go Do-Se-Do Nine Patch Quilt

Yarn: Any scrap worsted/ size 4 yarn
Hook: I/ 5.5MM
Notions: yarn needle
Gauge:  each square is 6 ½ inches
Size: I used a total of 81 squares. With the border the blanket is roughly 60 by 60

The Square

Round 1: With color A, Make a large adjustable loop with a long tail, ch 4 (counts as your first tr here and throughout), make 23 tr in the adjustable loop, pull the loop tight and sl st into the beginning tr. Do not finish off
Round 2A: With color B, join at any tr, ch 1, sc in same spot, {ch 7, sk 2 tr, sc in the next tr}, repeat {to} six more times, ch 7, sl st into the beginning sc. Finish off.
Round 2B: With color C, join at the next open tr of round 1, ch 1, sc in the same spot, {Ch 7, sk 1 tr of round 1 and 1 sc of round 2A, sc in the next tr}, repeat {to} six more times, ch 7, sl st into the beginning sc. Finnish off.
Round 2C: With color D, join in the open tr of the round 1, ch 1 sc in the same spot, {ch 7, sk the 2 sc of round 2A, and 2B, sc in the next tr} Repeat {to} 6 more times, ch 7, sl st into the beginning sc. Finnish off.
Round 3: Taking up Color A again, ch st into the closest ch 7 sp, 2 sc in the same loop, (2 sc in the next ch 7 loop), repeat (to) 22 times, sl st into the beginning sc.
Round 4: Ch 4, tr in the same sp, tr in the next 11 sc,{ (2 tr, ch 3, 2 tr) in the next sc,tr in the next 11 sc}, repeat {to} 2 more times, 2 tr in the starting sc, ch 3, sl st into the beginning tr. Finish Off. Weave in all your ends.

Assembly

Arrange your squares how you would like them then wip stitch them together starting with the columns and then the rows.

Edging

With the color of your choice sc in any square edge, {ch 7, sk 2 tr, sc in the next tr} Repeat {to} till you come all the way around the blanket, ch 7 sl st into the beginning sc. Repeat this with one or two different colors around the edge. I just have one repeat with 2 rows of loops in the picture example.

More Crochet Patterns You Will Love

Victorious Cowl

Always Pointing North Blanket

Friday, September 5, 2014

What I Have Been Working On 9/5/2014

I promised I would show you my embroidery project when it was completed.
I am very happy with the way it turned out. I have been thinking about what I want to do next. It might have to wait a little while. I am finally teaching classes at the art studio that I live near. Here is the web site if you want to check it out.http://www.artlicious.ca/  I have been making projects for the studio classes and I have been making things to also sell there.

For the upcoming winter we decided to go with making cowls that are at different levels of difficulty.

I am so excited for the upcoming season of my life, I am also very close to having a pattern to share with you. Hopefully n the next couple of days I will get it posted. So look out!

Friday, August 22, 2014

Summer Fling Cowl

I have been working all week on this pattern. This is a pattern that has taken on a lot of different forms from what it is today.


I wanted a cowl that had different textures. A lace part and a solid part. I started with the white lace part. Then I cut a t-shirt into a long strip and sewed it up. It did not look the way I wanted it. I then took the cowl apart and added a blue lace panel next to the white lace panel. Then I thought to myself what if I combined the white and blue together to make the solid piece. At that, I found the look I was looking for.



Summer Fling Cowl

Yarn: lace weight yarn, two colors. Each color will be worked separately for the lace motifs and the two strands of colors will be worked together for the solid piece. 

Hook: steel hook 3/2.50MM

Notions: yarn needle

Gauge: 

Size: 5 inches wide and 56 inches long before sewn together. 
 
Special sticthes:
Picot: ch 5, sl st into the stitch just made.
Joining picot: ch 2 sl st in to the picot of the first motif, ch 2, sl st into the dc just made

Pattern

Lace motif:

Round 1: {Ch 5, tr3tog in the first ch of the ch 5, ch 4 sl st into the first ch}, repeat {to} 3 more times, sl st into each of the first five chs, so that you end up on top of the first petal. (4 petals)

Round 2: Ch 1, sc in the top of the tr3tog, (ch 9, sc on top of the next petal) repeat (to) once, ch 9, sl st into the starting sc. 

Round 3: Sl st into the ch 9 sp, ch 6, (2dc, ch 5, 2dc) in the ch 9 sp, ch 3, dc in the same ch 9 sp, {dc in the next ch 9 sp, ch 3, (2 dc, ch 5, 2 dc) in the same ch 9 sp, ch 3, dc in the same ch 9 sp}, repeat {to} two more times, sl st into the third ch of the first ch 6. 

Round 4: Sl st into the ch 3 sp, ch 3, 2 dc in the same ch 3 sp, ch 3, (3 dc, ch 5, 3dc) in the ch 5 sp, ch 3, 3 dc in the ch 3 sp, picot, {3 dc in the next ch 3 sp, ch 3, (3 dc, ch 5, 3dc) in the ch 5 sp, ch 3, 3 dc in the ch 3 sp, picot}, repeat {to} two more times, sl st into the starting ch 3. Finish off. 

Joining motif for one side:

Repeat round 1-3 of the lace motif

Round 4: Sl st into the ch  sp, ch 3, 2 dc in the same ch 3 sp, ch 3, (3dc, ch 2, sl st into ch 5 of 1st motif, ch 2, 3 dc) in the ch 5 sp, ch 1, sl st into the ch 3 of the first motif, ch 1, 3 dc in the ch 3 sp, joining picot, 3 dc in the next ch 3 sp, ch 1, sl st into the ch 3 of the first motif, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, sl st into ch 5 of the 1s motif, ch 2, 3 dc) in the next ch 5 sp, ch 3, 3 dc in the ch 3 sp, picot, {3 dc in the next ch 3 sp, ch 3, (3 dc, ch 5, 3dc) in the ch 5 sp, ch 3, 3 dc in the ch 3 sp, picot}, repeat {to} 1 more time, sl st into the starting ch 3. Finish off.

Joining motif for 2 sides:

 Repeat round 1-3 of the lace motif

Round 4: Sl st into the ch  sp, ch 3, 2 dc in the same ch 3 sp, ch 3, {(3dc, ch 2, sl st into ch 5 of 1st motif, ch 2, 3 dc) in the ch 5 sp, ch 1, sl st into the ch 3 of the first motif, ch 1, 3 dc in the ch 3 sp, joining picot, 3 dc in the next ch 3 sp, ch 1, sl st into the ch 3 of the first motif, ch 1}, repeat once, (3 dc ch 2, sl st into ch 5 of 1st motif, ch 2, 3 dc) in the ch 5 sp, ch 3, 3 dc in the 3 ch sp, picot, sl at into beginning dc. Finish off. 

Make 10 motifs in color 1 and 10 motifs in color two

Solid piece

Putting the two colors together and working them on the hook at the same time. 
 
Row 1: Ch 30, hdc in the 2 ch from the hook, and hdc in each ch across for a total of 29 hdc.

Row 2: Ch 1 (does not count as a stitch here and throughout), hdc in the first hdc, {ch 1, sk 1 hdc, hdc in the next hdc}, repeat till the last hdc.

Row 3: Ch 1, hdc in the first hdc, hdc in the ch 1 sp, {ch 1, hdc in the next ch 1 sp}, repeat till the last ch 1 sp, hdc in the the last hdc.

Row 4: Ch 1, hdc in the first hdc, {ch 1, hdc in the next ch 1 sp} repeat till the last sp, ch 1 hdc in the last hdc. 

Repeat rows 3 and 4 till your desired length. 

Assembly

When the lace and the solid piece are finished wip stitch them together with a yarn needle so that they make a long tube.

 More Crochet Patterns You Will Love

twists and bows cowl

copycat striped bag 

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Summer "Vacation"

The Great thing about having a crochet business is that you can work and travel at the same time. Also when your husband is a student the only time you get to travel is in the summer and that week during Christmas. Right now we live 6 to 10 hours away from our families so we really wanted to see everyone that we haven't  seen in over a year.

This desire has resulted in a wild month long trip for my daughter and I. My husband gets to enjoy two weeks of it with us. We will be flying for the last leg of our journey. That meant I had to pack for a month in a carry-on and personal item. I told my husband, "You expect a creative person to live out of a carry-on for a Month!" Why yes, yes he did.

I had a few misgivings out of it. I watched videos and read blogs on how to live out of a carry-on. I felt a little better. I have to say 2 and a half weeks in I'm doing pretty well.
I decided I would pack small projects to work on. So I packed A half yard of linen fabric, a sandwich bag of embroidery thread, a hoop, two skeins of Simply Soft yarn, and my case of hooks.

With the two skeins of yarn I made a sweater vest, that I am writing a pattern for. I ended up finishing it and leaving it at my dad's to pick it up at Christmas time. That also gives me a little more room in my bag.
The first embroidery project that I made was this one. The pattern is found at NeedlenThread.com . I'm pretty happy with it. I'll iron it out and make it pretty when I get home.


The one I am working on now did not have an original site that I could find. It is also coming out well. I still have 10 more days left of my trip so I know I will have some more to show. I hope you find inspiration in the fact that this creative lady is living out of a carry-on for a month and surviving!

Friday, July 11, 2014

Morning Glory Sun Hat

A free Crochet Pattern



There are some patterns that I come up with that take me forever to finish. From coming up with a concept then making the model piece, making extra sizes so I know I am getting the math right, getting the pieces ready for pictures, taking the pictures, editing the pictures, and last but not least actually typing the pattern out and editing the pattern.

I have a lot  of patterns that just sit around forever. For example I have this blanket that I have been working on. The only thing left is weaving in the ends and taking pictures. I've been on that step for over a month.  Procrastination at its worst.

There are other patterns that just seem to fly off the hook. The pattern that I want to share with you has all happened this week. When fast patterns happen I always feel bad for the other patterns that are waiting to go up on the blog. One day they will get to shine.





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Morning Glory Sun Hat





Designer: Julia Schwartz

Yarn: Lion brand Comfy Cotton Blend Light size 3, 50% cotton 50% polyester 7 oz./ 200g., 392 yds/ 358m

Hook: H/8 - 5.00mm

Notions: yarn needle to weave in your ends.

Sizes: Small (19 inch circumference) , Medium (21 inch circumference) , Large (23 inch circumference)

Gauge: make the first six rounds if it is at 18 in circumference then you have the right gauge

Stitches used: Chain (ch), Single crochet (sc), Half Double crochet (hdc), Double crochet (dc)

Copyright: Julia Schwartz.
Do not reproduce, copy, distribute, or sell this pattern without permission of the designer. This pattern must not be translated, reproduced, or circulated in another language without prior consent. If you have questions about this pattern please contact me through e-mail.

Where Can I get this pattern? 

This is a free pattern. Keep scrolling down to see this pattern. If you would like to purchase a pattern that is ads free and printer friendly for $3.00 you can through my Ravelry Store.

<--------->BUY NOW<-------->





Pattern


For All Sizes

Round 1: Make an adjustable ring, ch 3 (counts as the first dc here and throughout), make 11 dc, pull ring tight and sl st into first dc for a total of 12 dc.

Round 2: Ch 1, (sc, dc) in starting st, (dc, sc) in the next st, { (sc, dc) in the next st, (dc, sc) in the next st}, Repeat {to} 4 times, sl st in the first st.

Round 3: Ch 3 (counts as first dc here and throughout), {sc in the next 2 dc, dc in the next sc, ch 3, dc in the next sc}, Repeat {to} 4 times, sc in the next 2 dc, dc in the next sc, ch 1, hdc in the first dc.

Round 4: Ch 3, 2 dc in the same sp, {sk 1 dc, sc in the next 2 sc, sk 1 dc, (3 dc, ch 3, 3dc) in the next sp}, repeat {to} 4 times, sk 1 dc sc in the next 2 sc, sk 1 dc, 3 dc in the last sp, ch 1, hdc in the starting dc.

Round 5: Ch 3, 2 dc in the starting sp, {ch 3, (3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in the next ch 3 sp}, repeat {to} 4 times, ch 3, 3 dc in the last sp, ch 1, hdc in the first dc.

Round 6: Ch 3, 2 dc in the same sp, {(3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc) in the next ch 3 sp}, repeat 10 times, 3 dc in the last sp, ch 1, hdc in the first dc.

For smaller size Repeat round 6, 4 times or till your desired length. Do not finish off. 

For medium and large size:

Round 7:  Ch 3, 3 dc in the same sp, {(4 dc, ch 3, 4 dc) in the next ch 3 sp}. Repeat 10 times, 4 dc in the last sp, ch 1, hdc in the first dc.

For the medium size repeat round 7, 5 times or till your desired length. Do not finish off.

For the large size:
Round 8: Ch 3, 4 dc in the same sp, {( 5 dc, ch 4, 5 dc), in the next ch sp}. Repeat 10 times, 5 dc in the last sp, ch 2, hdc in the first dc. 

Repeat round 8, 5 times or till your desired length do not finish off.

For the Brim, small (medium, large):
 Round 1: Ch 1, sc in same sp,{ ch 3 (5, 7), 2  sc in the ch 3(4) sp},  Repeat 11 times, ch 4 (6,8), 1 sc in the last ch sp, sl st into the first sc. (60, (72, 84) sts)

Round 2: Ch 1, sc, {3 (5,7) sc in the next ch sp, sc in each sc}, repeat {to} 11 times, 4 (6,8) sc in the last ch space, sc in the last ch sp, sl st into the first sc. (60, (72, 84) sts)

Round 3: Ch 3, (counts as a dc here and throughout), working in front posts only{dc in the next 4 (5, 6) sc, 2 dc in the next sc}, repeat {to} 12 times, sl st into beginning sc. (increase by 12) 

Round 4: Ch 3, {dc in the next 5 (6, 7) dc, 2 dc in the next dc}, repeat {to} 12 times sl st into beginning dc. (increase by 12) 

Round 5: Ch 3, {dc in the next 6 (7, 8) dc, 2 dc in the next dc}, repeat {to} 12 times sl st into beginning sc.

 For small finish off or continue for a larger brim

Round 6: Ch 1 { sc in the next 7 (8, 9) sc, 2 sc in the next sc}, repeat {to} 12 times sl st into beginning sc. 

For medium finish off or continue for a larger brim

Round 7: Ch 1 { sc in the next 8 (9, 10) sc, 2 sc in the next sc}, repeat {to} 12 times sl st into beginning sc.

For large finish off or continue increasing each row for a lager brim. 


More crochet Patterns You Will Love 

garden party clutch 

Sunrise/ sunset cowl  

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Adult Simple Crochet Yoke

I love how it turned out!
Do you remember the simple yoke that I made for my daughter last year? I decided I needed a shirt with one too.


I started with a shirt that I found for my husband on the clearance rack for a dollar. The shirt ended up being to small for him, so I found a new way to use it.

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Girl Power Backpack

A Free Crochet Pattern

 

This Backpack is all about what little girls love. It's pink with lots of flowers and it can hold all the things they collect. Do your girls collect ALL THE THINGS like my girls do? Oh my some times I would rather avoid their room.

It has finally warmed up here in Toronto. We have moved into a neighborhood that has a lot of parks. There are four that we can go to that are in walking distance. We have been using this bag a lot. All of my daughter's park toys go in the bag and it sits by our front door ready to go. I have also been using my copy cat striped bag to hold my crocheting when we go to the park.


Girl Power Back Pack

Yarn: Lily: Sugar and cream: Worsted 4 ply cotton, 120 yrds./ 2.5 oz color: 1 skein: Soft Ecru, 1 skein: Hot Pink

Hook: I

Notions: safety pin, blunt needle

Size: Each motif is 5 inches. Bag is roughly 13 by 11.
 
Copyright 
Julia Schwartz. Do not reproduce, copy, distribute, or sell this pattern without permission of the designer. This pattern must not be translated, reproduced, or circulated in another language without prior consent. If you have questions about this pattern please contact me through my e-mail. 

Where Can I Get The Pattern

This is a free pattern. Keep scrolling down to see this free crochet pattern. If you would like to add the free downloadable pattern to your library through Ravelry You can here:download now



Pentagon Motif: (make 5 pink and make 5 ecru)

Round 1: Make an adjustable loop, ch 1,{sc in loop, ch 9, sc in loop} repeat 3 times for a total of 4 loops, ch 5, tr in starting sc pull adjustable loop tight. (5 loops total)

Round 2: ch 1, sc in ch loop just made, ch 6,{sc in next loop, ch 6} repeat around sl st into first sc. (5 sc, and 5 ch 6 spaces)

Round 3: Ch 1 slip st into sp, ch 1, {(3 sc, ch 3, 3 sc) in the 6 ch  space} repeat around, sl st into first sc.

Round 4: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in next 2 sc,{(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch sp, dc in the next 6 sc,} repeat 3 more times, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc), in next ch sp, dc in the last 3 sc, sl st in first dc. Finish off. Weave in your end.

Putting the motifs together

Making sure as you go that all the motifs are facing the same way (or in other words that the point is facing the same way on all of them.)

Take 2 motifs and put them together backs facing each other and points going the same direction, and sc one side together. Finish off. Repeat this till you have a line of all 5 of the same color pentagons together. Then take the first and last and put them together with a row os sc. to complete the circle of pentagons. Repeat this with the next color.

Now to put the 2 colors together you will match up a point with a dip, and so forth. With the back sides facing each dc will line up with a sc, and each point space matches up with two dip spaces. (I’m sorry that sounds really confusing) SO, Start with sc in the next 10 dc, one sc for the sp or sps, sc in the next 10 dc. Repeat around, sl st in first sc. Finish off. Weave in you ends.

Bottom of the bag (in white)

Round 1: Make an adjustable loop, ch 3 (counts as first dc here and throughout) make 11 dc in the loop, pull loop tight and sl st into first dc (12 dc)

Round 2: Ch 3, dc in same st, 2 dc in each st around, sl st in first dc (24 dc)

Round 3: Ch 3, (2 dc in next dc, 1 dc in next dc) repeat around 2 dc in last dc, sl st in first dc. (36)


Round 4: Ch 3, 1 dc in the next  dc, 2 dc in next dc, {dc in the next 2 dc, 2 dc in the next dc} repeat around, sl st into first dc. (48)

Round 5: Ch 3, 1 dc in the next 2 dc, 2 dc in the next dc, {dc in the next 3 dc, 2 dc in the next dc} repeat around, sl st into first dc. (60)

Round 6: Ch 3, 1 dc in the next 3 dc, 2 dc in the next dc, {dc in the next 4 dc, 2 dc in the next dc} repeat around, sl st into first dc. Do not finish off (72)

Connecting the motifs to the bottom of the bag


With back sides facing each other, sc both pieces together. Dc’s should match up with each st and sp.

Top of bag (pink)

Round 1: Joining around the back post of a dc in the white motifs,{bpdc in the next 10 dc, bpdc around the joining st of the 2 motifs,} repeat around,  sl st into beginning st.

Round 2- 4: Ch 3, dc in each bpdc around, sl st into beginning st. Finnish off weave in your ends.

Sew round 1 to round 4 making a space for the adjustable straps to go.

Straps

Making a large tail with both colors, form a slip knot and ch 180 ch, or till you have your desired length, finish off leaving a long tail.

With a safety pin work one side of the  straps around the top of the bag 1 and a half times, and make the straps even and then tie the long tails at even spots at the bottom of the back of the bag.

More Crochet Patterns You Will Love

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