Daydreamer Dolman Sweater Pattern and More!

I was just reading my last blog post from September of 2018.  That's right, September! Blimey it's been a long time!!!

At least let me follow up my last ancient post.  Since the fall of last year, I have managed to get a couple projects done.  The Daydreamer Dolman Sweater is my brand new pattern that has been months in the making.  I really wanted to design something to showcase all of the fun, cake style yarns on the market. This was made using Caron Latte Cakes and I just love how the colors present themselves in cool, geometric patterns. Of course you could go solid or design your own.  I made

up this second one with short sleeves using Yarn Bee's Fur-Ever Style and trimmed it out with a pretty blue from my stash.  This one is lighter weight and a nice layer to throw on over a tank.  It's worked in a free size for all of us fans of loose, comfy clothes. 

So that's my big new pattern, but in my last post I was talking about my All Wrapped Up in Circles & Squares Applique and how I was working on project using this motif.  I ended up assembling two of the 10" squares and designing a handbag.  All of the details can be found on Instagram by searching #circlesandsquaresbag You can find me on Insta @jennofwindrose and here is what the finished project looks like...

Cute, huh?

I guess I have one last share before I call it a night.  I recently found a source for really nice quality Recycled Sari Silk Sliver.  It is free of little threads and bits that are commonly found in recycled sari silk so its pure pleasure to spin.  If you love all of the gorgeous and somewhat random colors that can be found in recycled sari silk, you will go crazy for this fiber.  Oops, can't forget the pic!

Okay, I am going to call this Wednesday done.  Hope life is treating you well!!

My Mermaid is Here! ~ From Snowfall Studio

My Mermaid just arrived from Snowfall Studio and she's gorgeous!

I think she likes her new home.  What do you think?

I don't want to start a stampede or anything, but Kristen has a new mermaid in her shop with sweet little heart embellishments.  For Valentine's Day or any day, it would make a wonderful gift!

My Lace Vest ~ Now I'm Really Scaring Myself!

A couple days ago I talked about frogging my Lapis Wrap for a Solomon's Knot lace vest that I'm designing on the fly.  (frog/fly... too much?)  Well, today I went to a scary place.  I cut off a piece of my fabric from the beginning rows.  


I guess I need to explain that better.  I'm working my drape front style vest in one piece beginning from the left front, continuing across the back and then the right front.  I have already crocheted the second armhole so I'm nearing the finish line.  


I tried it on to make sure that I liked the width of the back and that is when I decided that the left front was a little longer than I wanted.  The proportions just looked a little off.  At this point I had three choices.  I could live with it, start all over again, or I could cut a few rows off from the beginning.  I knew I couldn't live with it and I didn't want to start over, so I went for the scissors. 


I don't think I've ever cut into a project before unless I was using part of it for something else.  In this case, I want to shorten the length without changing the look.  Since I care about appearances here, I was pretty nervous.  I say was because now that it's all said and done, I think I'm going to be okay.  

I was able to place a safety pin through the loops of the stitches that I'll be working into when I re-create the first row.  *Deep sigh*  I tried it back on and now the length looks much more in proportion, so I feel like my project is back on track.  I guess life is good if scary is cutting my crochet!  
 

Lapis Wrap Update

I haven't talked about my Lapis Wrap in a while. Here's the thing, I'm about 8 rows from being finished and I've decided to frog the whole thing.  I'm cringing as I type this because I'm afraid you'll think I'm crazy.  Maybe I am.  The sizing has worked out just fine even though I completely played around with the gauge.  The only reason I can offer is that I can't get the idea out of my mind that I would rather it be more lacy and light. 

I went browsing through one of my crochet stitch dictionaries to find a pretty lace.  I found myself drawn to the Solomon's Knot lace.  This has happened before.  I have made one other project using Solomon's Knot lace and that one turned out pretty, so I think I'm going for project #2.


This means I'm going rogue and making up my pattern as I crochet.  This is always a little risky, but it makes it kind of fun too.  I've crocheted around 10 inches worth so far and I love how light and airy the fabric feels.  It also has a nice drape and a stretchy quality that appeals. 


I still like the Lapis Wrap pattern and maybe next fall I'll go for it again and use a lighter yarn and the proper gauge.  With the temperatures already warming here in my part of the country, lace seems like the way to go!

Hat Sizing

I've been talking about hats a lot lately, so I thought I'd share this handy hat sizing list.  Even for those of us with kids, sometimes it's hard to remember the average head circumference of a 3 year old.  


This list leaves out adults.  21"-23" or 53.5 to 58.5cm is pretty typical.  21" is usually an adult small, 22" a medium, which leaves 23" as a large hat size.  This is the kind of information that's nice to keep around when hat making is the order of the day!

*Info for this post comes from Little Lids.

Baby Girl Beanie

I made another beanie for Craft Hope last night.  This one is sized for a baby girl.  I thought it might be nice to add a scalloped trim for an extra touch.  If you are making the Spiral Beanie, and you would like to add a trim like this one, all I did was alter the last row of the brim as follows:


(sl st, skip st, 3 dc in next st, skip st) around


This gives you a cute little scalloped edge.  I also wanted to make a flower for my brim.  I was using bulky yarn, so I knew I needed a very simple and flat flower or it would overwhelm the whole hat.  Here's how I made my


Six Petal Flower

ch 2
Row 1:  6 sc in second ch from hook, join with sl st to first sc
Row 2:  ch 2, dc, ch 2, sl st into same st, *sl st into next st, ch 2, dc, ch 2, sl st into same st* around, sl st into 1st sc and finish off.  Use tail ends to sew onto hat.

I hope you enjoy these little embellishments to The Spiral Beanie Pattern!  

The 2012 Ornament Project ~ February

The Circle of Hearts

Materials:
your choice of yarn and an appropriately sized hook, scissors, and 5 stitch markers

Leave a 10" tail
Rows 1-5 are worked in the round


ch 2
Row 1:  work 6 sc in 2nd st from hook.  Place marker in front loop of first sc
Rows 2-5:  working in the round and in back loops only, sc around, place marker in front loop of first sc in each row

do not finish off 


Your work should look like a tube with the tail end coming up through the middle.  (you can use your hook to bring the beginning tail up through your tube)  The hearts (we'll make one half at a time) are worked in the unworked front loops from Rows 1-5 in a vertical fashion.  The first half will be worked from top (Row 5) to bottom (Row 1) in the stitches you have marked.  The second half of that heart will be worked from bottom to top in the unworked stitches directly to the left of the first half.  Please use the pictures as your guide.  I have marked the loops in which we will be placing our stitches with a dot.

Beginning Hearts

First Half - sc in front loop of 1st sc from Row 5 (remove marker), (dc, 5 tr) in same st, dc in front loop of 1st sc from Row 4 (inserting hook from bottom to top as in picture below), hdc in front loop of 1st sc from Row 3,  sc in front loop of 1st sc from Row 2,  sl st in front loop of 1st sc from Row1

Second Half - working in unworked front loops directly to the left of first half and from bottom to top (see picture below) sl st in front loop of 2nd sc from Row1, sc in front loop of 2nd sc from Row 2, hdc in front loop of 2nd sc from Row3, dc in front loop of 2nd sc from Row 4, (5 tr, dc, sc) in front loop of 2nd sc from Row 5

Repeat First Half and Second Half respectively two more times.  Each time you will be working in the unworked front loops directly to the left of the last half.  Your completed Circle of Hearts will have 6 heart halves.  

Finishing

After completing your 6th heart half, you should be at the top of your ornament.  Sl st in front loop of 1st sc of Row  5 and finish off leaving 8".  Use your hook to draw this ending tail piece through the middle of the tube as in the picture below.  Tie the beginning and ending tails together using an overhand knot making sure to allow 2 to 3 inches for hanging.

Your Circle of Hearts ornament is now complete!  I hope the instructions are easy to follow.  This one was a little tricky to write.  Please don't hesitate to ask questions in the "comments" below if you need me to clarify anything.  Until next time...

(If you need a stitch guide or help with the abbreviations, Crochet 'N' More is a great place to find all of the basics.)

Flower Power Pinned Brim Hat ~ A New Design!

My inspiration for this hat was threefold.  First and foremost, Craft Hope's Project 16: The Littlest Warriors energized my creative juices.  There's no better feeling than creating with a purpose and supporting kids through their cancer treatments is very motivating.  As a mom, my heart really goes out to those families and how difficult it must be. My inspiration for the style came from my love of 20's fashion with a little 70's flower power thrown in the mix.  I also kept in mind that this hat would be worn by a girl who will be spending time in bed or on the couch recuperating.


As you can see, the back of the hat turns up like a traditional beanie.  The brim is soft and flexible, so even if one is laying on their side, it will feel comfortable. The more angled shape of the crown, gives this hat some stylish flare while still keeping it cozy and practical.

I have a couple busy days ahead, and then I hope to get this pattern written down.  I have a little niece that I think would look adorable in this hat, so I think I have to make one more.  I also have another design rolling around in my head.  This one will be keeping for the boys.  If I can manage to make what I see in my mind, I think it will be fun and a little funky! 

Decorating the Tree

It was a strange feeling to hand my son a few ornaments and ask him to trim the tree.  After all, it is January and I don't usually have a tree in my studio!  

Since I started the 2012 Ornament Project, I figured I may as well keep my 6' pine from Terry's Village in my studio.  That way, as I design a new ornament each month, I can go ahead and see how they look.


Each time I create a new design, I tend to make a handful of them.  Sometimes I play around with the sizing and other times I just get caught up in the process and can't resist making several.  By December, I should have a fully decorated tree.  I think it will be a fun, ongoing project!


PS ~ You can find the free crochet patterns for my ornaments on the Crochet Patterns Page.  This one is called The Flower Wheel.

The Spiral Beanie ~ Youth to Adult Sizes ~ Free Crochet Pattern

Materials:
Crochet Hook Size J
Yarn - two colors of worsted weight yarn - Sample made with Patons Classic Wool, color Paprika [4] and Sensations Angel Hair, color 4729 [5]
Scissors, large eye needle, stitch marker (optional)

Note 1: yarn (A) will be the color with which you begin your beanie.  In this case it is the Paprika (orange).  The brim can be worked in either color.
Note 2: This pattern is worked in the round.

Stitches: You will be using the following stitches - chain stitch (ch), slip stitch (sl st), single crochet (sc) and changing colors. (∆) will symbolize changing colors throughout. I will use this symbol when you come to the last stitch of a color. You will start the stitch in the same color, but on the last yarn over, you will replace your yarn with the other color and pull up your loop. *Repeat instructions between asterisks* the number of times indicated.  Crochet 'N' More has a useful stitch guide.

Beginning at the Crown:

Begin with color (A). The center of the crown should not have a hole in the middle so we'll begin with a magic ring also known as a magic circle.  Wrap the tail end of your yarn, clockwise, from back to front around the index and middle fingers of the hand with which you hold your yarn. There should be 2 loops of yarn around your fingers. Insert your hook under the front loop and hook the back loop. Draw it under the front loop. Yarn over and pull through the loop on your hook. Pull the tail of your yarn to tighten the circle, but not all the way.

Sizing - Work the following rows until the diameter is the correct width for your desired hat size.  Remember, circumference = 3.14 x diameter.  For a 21 inch hat, the diameter should be approximately 6.5 inches.  If you want a 22 inch hat, then stop when your crown has a diameter (width) of 7 inches.  For a 23 inch hat, the diameter should be approximately 7.5 inches.  I'm rounding these numbers, so if you want to do the math, just divide the desired size of your finished hat by 3.14 (π).  For my sample hat, which is made to fit a 22" head, I worked Rows 1-12.  When your diameter has reached the desired width, move on to the Body or Length of the Beanie.

Row 1: (A) work 4 sc in the circle, sc in the circle (∆ B), sc in the circle (equals 6 sts) Pull the tail end of the yarn to close the beginning circle the rest of the way.
Row 2: 2 sc in next 3 sts, sc in next st, sc in same st (∆ A), 2 sc in next 2 sts. (equals 12 sts)
Row 3: *1 sc in next st, 2 sc in next st* 3 times, sc in next st (∆ B), 2 sc in next st, *1 sc in next st, 2 sc in next st* 2 times (equals 18 sts)
Row 4: *sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st* 2 times, sc in next 2 sts, sc in next st (∆ A), sc in same st, *sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st* 3 times. (equals 24 sts)
Row 5: *sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st* 2 times, sc in next st, sc in next st (∆ B), sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, *sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st* 3 times (equals 30 sts)
Row 6: *sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st* 2 times, sc in next st (∆ A), sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st, *sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st* 3 times. (equals 36 sts)
Row 7: *sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st* 1 time, sc in next 5 sts, sc in next st (∆ B), sc in same st, *sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st* 4 times. (equals 42 sts)
Row 8: *sc in next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st* 1 time, sc in next 4 sts, sc in next st (∆ A), sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, *sc in next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st* 4 times. (equals 48 sts)
Row 9: *sc in next 7 sts, 2 sc in next st* 1 time, sc in next 3 sts, sc in next st (∆ B), sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st, *sc in next 7 sts, 2 sc in next st* 4 times. (equals 54 sts)
Row 10: sc in next 11 sts, sc in next st (∆ A), sc in next 42 sts. (equals 54 sts)
Row 11: *sc in next 8 sts, 2 sc in next st* 1 time, sc in next st, sc in next st (∆ B), sc in next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st, *sc in next 8 sts, 2 sc in next st* 4 times. (equals 60 sts)
Row 12: *sc in next 9 sts, 2 sc in next st* 1 time, sc in next st, sc in next st (∆ A), sc in next 8 sts, 2 sc in next st, *sc in next 9 sts, 2 sc in next st* 4 times. (equals 66 sts)
Row 13: sc in next 10 sts, sc in next st, sc in same st (∆ B), * 1 time, sc in next st, sc in next st (∆ A), *sc in next 10 sts, 2 sc in next st* 5 times. (equals 72 sts)
 
 Body or Length of Beanie

sc in each st around. ∆ colors in second to last st of each opposing color row. For instance, if you begin crocheting in color (B). The sts you are working into are color (A). When there are only two color (A) sts left, sc in next st (∆ A) and then continue working around in (A). Follow the pattern in this way until you reach your desired length minus 1 inch for the brim.  (I recommend 7.75 to 8 inches from the top of the crown.) Sample has a total of 29 rows before the brim.


Decide which color you would like to use for the brim.  On the  last row of the body, you should change to this color. The remainder of the hat will be worked in the brim color, so the other yarn can be finished off leaving enough length to weave in the loose end.
 
Brim

(use stitch marker if desired)
Rows 1-4: sc in each st around.
Row 5: sc to last st, sl st in last st, ch 1 turn.
Row 6: Skip first st (the sl st from previous row), sc around, sc in ch 1 space.
Rows 7-13: sc in each st around.

Finishing
Sl st into next st, finish off. Fold up last 7 rows to form brim. Weave in all loose ends.

To add a scalloped trim and a flower to the brim, please visit this related post:  Baby Girl Beanie

A Beanie For Craft Hope

Yesterday Craft Hope announced Project 16:  The Littlest Warriors.  This time we'll be crafting for kids fighting cancer.  Craft Hope is collecting beanie hats for babies through teens and bags for the kids to take to the hospital.  You can even fill the bags with crayons, coloring or activity books and anything else the kids might like.    

I couldn't wait to get started, so last night I got to work on a larger version of my Spiral Baby Beanie.  I've always liked this hat and I knew it wouldn't be hard to enlarge the size.  I need another day or two, but I'll be posting a free pattern for this beanie in youth to adult sizes.  

For this particular hat, I picked colors that I thought would look cute on a little boy, but half the fun is making them in different colors every time.  You can get creative with embellishments too.  On my Crochet Patterns Page you'll find a couple free flower patterns and a little leaf.  You could also buy sew-on decals for boys and girls at most craft or fabric stores.  Novelty yarns can also take this beanie to the next level.  Imagine a fur trim or a nice bouclé.

I like to get the kids involved in these projects too, so I'll be designing an easy sew fleece hat or something that we can do together.  My boys just don't want to learn to crochet.  Can you imagine that? 

Lapis Wrap ~ A Good Beginning

I'm off to a good start on my Lapis Wrap.  Of course I've already made things a little more complicated for myself by working in a different gauge.  My natural stitches must be quite a bit larger than the author's, but I have decided not to change hooks or yarn.  

I went back and forth on this decision.  I think that if I switched to a smaller hook, my double crochets would be smaller and closer together which would help the lace stand out.  I think it would probably be a little prettier than sticking with the H hook, but I chose the H hook anyway.  This will create a vest that is lighter and more open.  I can't help but favor breezier garments living where I do.  I'm thinking I'll go ahead and make this one with the larger gauge and then maybe I'll choose a lighter weight yarn and a smaller hook and make another to the pattern specifications.  


Basically, what this means is that I'll be doing more mental math as I crochet this Lapis Wrap.  I'll also be depending on the schematics to help me accurately place my armholes and work the front of the piece.  The pattern seems to be very well written, so I don't expect to have too much trouble.  I really like the "tulip" rows or lace.  They are very pretty and fun to crochet too.  I feel like I'm zooming right along! 

The Lapis Wrap ~ My Next Project

I'm getting ready to crochet the Lapis Wrap by Yumiko Alexander.  I love the style of this vest and lately I've rediscovered the simple joy of crocheting from a pattern.  Sometimes I can get caught up in designing or free forming.  It's a relaxing break to just follow along. 


I'm trying out a new yarn for this project.  I'm using Uptown DK by Universal Yarn in the color Majestic.  I don't often use acrylics these days, but this is the right weight, it's soft and the words "anti pilling" carry some appeal. The pattern suggests using Universal's Renew Wool, but I wasn't feeling the colors and 100% wool can get a bit toasty here in the Phoenix area. 

Snowfall Studio ~ Crocheted Plushies for Children

I am very excited to share a new store on Etsy called Snowfall Studio.  The owner of this shop, Kristen, is a good friend.  We met when our oldest sons were both toddlers.  Each week our little playgroup would come together and we'd spend a couple hours trying to keep the kids happy while we also tried to have adult conversation.  Of course most of these conversations ended up being about our kids.  

When Kristen joined the group, I admired her right from the start.  She was quiet, but I could tell that she was tuned in to everything.  The rug rat chaos often made me crazy, but if it bothered Kristen, her face revealed nothing.  At coffee time with my husband, I would recount the previous play date and tell him that the wise woman of the group was certainly Kristen.  

Over the years we've stayed in touch even though we have both moved away from the neighborhood where we first met.  Kristen is the mother of four beautiful kids.  The youngest is now in school, so for the first time in 14 years, she has a little free time.  She is devoting some of these precious hours to making original, crocheted designs for children.  

I love her mermaids with their Waldorf inspired simplicity and their whimsical details.  The one to the left is my favorite because I like the colors.  I guess I have a thing for brunettes.  I didn't mean to saw her in half, but I want you to be able to click on the picture and see the details for yourself.  I love the shape of the mermaid's tail and Kristen's stitches are so flawless.  The starfish accents are the perfect touch to bring your imagination to life as you picture this mermaid in her magical home.  

Kristen also makes kitties, turtles and birds.  Quality is very important to her as she knows these will become beloved toys.  They are made for play and though I may be getting a little old for dolls, I'm getting ready to place an order at Snowfall Studio.  I can just see my mermaid, perched on a rock by the swimming pool or maybe on the chaise with a good book! 

The 2012 Ornament Project ~ January

The Flower Wheel

Ch 2
Row 1:  work 6 sc in second ch from hook, sl st to beg sc
Row 2:  ch 3 (counts as first dc) 2 dc in same st, 3 dc in each st around, join with sl st to top of beg ch 3 - 18 dc
Row 3:  *ch 5, skip st, sc in next st* 8 times
Row 4;  ch 5, skip next st, sc in first unworked st from Row 3 (working in front of the loops), *ch 5, sc in next unworked st* 8 times, ch 5, sl st to first sc made in Row 4
Finishing:  Pull loop on hook until it measures 2.25 inches. Cut off yarn leaving 4” for weaving.  Tie the loop and the 4” piece using the beginning shoe lace tie.  Weave in all loose ends.

Picture Notes:

It's a simple little shape and makes up very quickly.  To me it looks like a cross between a flower and a wheel, so that's why I named it The Flower Wheel.  I played around with the size by changing the stitch in row 2 to a hdc or a sc, but in the end, I liked the look of the dc best.  


If you need a stitch guide or help with the abbreviations, Crochet 'N' More is a great place to find all of the basics. 

New Year's Shrug

Happy New Year!  I'm feeling more productive than philosophical on this, the first day of 2012.  Yesterday I started the Aslan Shrug pattern from the winter 2011 issue of Interweave Crochet.  It's a fast moving project.  By the time I put it down in the early evening, the shrug was nearly complete with the exception of the finishing rows.  It took no time at all to work the armholes and end rows this morning and now I'm wearing my new shrug!

The pattern calls for a bulky yarn and a size K hook.  I don't keep a lot of bulky laying around, so I just used worsted weight Merino and kept my stitches nice and relaxed.  The gauge worked out fine and I was able to create the whole piece from remnant skeins.  I decided to use three colors, but perhaps the pineapple theme would stand out more in a single shade.  Pineapples are supposed to be lucky aren't they?  Maybe this is a good way to start the new year!

Reversible Scarf ~ Double Ended Crochet

Hi. I hope everyone's week is getting off to a good start. I just thought I'd take a moment to show you how my reversible scarf is coming along. This is the first real project I've done with a double ended crochet hook. Up until now, I've just made swatches to play around with different stitch patterns.

The scarf I'm making is one of my own patterns. It's basically a long, skinny triangle which I call The City Scarf because I saw people wearing scarves like this all over the cities of Europe. It's worn with the widest point front and center and then the ends are wrapped around the neck and brought back to the front. Wait, let me go grab a picture...

Okay, here we go. In this photo, the ends are tied in front, but you get the general idea. I fell in love with this style and so when I returned home, I designed a scarf of my own.

In this reversible version I'm working on, I'm keeping things simple, literally. I'm using the Tunisian simple stitch or Tss throughout. I guess this isn't very adventurous of me, but I didn't want to get tripped up at the points of increase and decrease. This is my first effort after all. I'll mix things up a bit more on the next project.

I have a couple of close-ups so you can see both sides:



I'm using two sock weight yarns for this scarf. One is Bamboo & Ewe made by Sensations. That one is solid grey. The other yarn is Poems Socks made by Wisdom Yarns. It's a self striping yarn and the colorway is called Aurora Borealis. I think I was as drawn by the name as I was by the colors. Interestingly enough, both of these yarns were manufactured in Turkey. I guess they've come a long way to be a part of my little project!

Basket Weave Tunisian Crochet ~ Market Bag Project Finished!

It's always fun to say "I finished it!" My life has been so busy lately that I'm feeling an extra sense of accomplishment whenever I manage to complete anything. I'm sure you can relate to that feeling!

This project went very smoothly and fast too for the size of the market bag. It measures approximately 14 x 19 inches. I really like the strap design because they are so comfortable. They were made by (Tks) crocheting long rectangles and then whip stitching them together lengthwise. It makes them very strong, thick and well cushioned. I can see using this kind of strap for other projects in the future.

In my previous post about this project, I offer the source of the pattern and the yarn details in case you're interested. It was definitely fun to make and its the kind of thing that would make a nice gift. We all use market bags for one thing or another. Right now I'm probably going to use mine to hold my other Tunisian crochet project until I manage to finish it. I think I may be on a roll!

Hairpin Lace Project ~ My Personal Commitment

Here it is, in all its glory, my hairpin lace project! A couple nights ago, I went to my monthly guild meeting and this year they're introducing a challenge. The wise women of the guild have called upon our group to complete a project that has maybe been sitting around for a while. It could also be trying out something new that you've always wanted to do.

The idea is that we commit to completing our personal challenge by March 14th, 2012. At that point, all of our creations will be professionally photographed and made into a calendar. Of course we will then buy the calendar to help support our guild and all of the good things it does. We'll get the added kick of having our project featured on it pages. That is, if we finish our project.

I didn't have to think very long to come up with my own personal commitment. My hairpin lace project is both new, as I have never made a hairpin lace piece before, and sitting around. It spends most of its days in this basket. Nice basket, huh?

I started what will eventually become a colorful, hairpin lace sweater back in... gee let me check.... gosh, was it really January 9th? This is worse than I thought! This personal commitment is exactly the push I need to get back to work. March 14th. That gives me 181 days to finish my project. I think I can. I think I can.

Tunisian Crochet with a Basket Weave Design

The last thing I need is another project, but every time I finish one, I start two more. I blame the yarn! You see, I ordered yarn for a project and then kind of forgot about it. Well, this week the yarn came in and it's been staring at me, beckoning. What kind of woman would I be if I ignored this poor, innocent yarn?

This is how I ended up starting a new Tunisian crochet project even though I have a long way to go on my current one. There are a million tote bag patterns, but I wanted to make this particular one because of the basket weave design. I've never done this with Tunisian crochet before, so I wanted to check it out. The basket weave is subtle, but I hope you can see it in the picture here.

I'm enjoying this project more than I imagined I would to tell you the truth. It's moving along very quickly which is always a plus for those of us with attention issues. Creating the basket weave adds just enough detail to keep it interesting and the yarn is pretty cool too. I think it's perfect for a market bag like this one. The color is Grass and it's made by Plymouth Yarn. It's 65% cotton and 35% hemp. If I had to guess, I'd say they dyed the cotton green and then carded it with natural hemp. The result is a sort of distressed look like worn denim only in green. It feels just how you expect a market bag to feel and I think it will be strong as well.

In case you're interested, this is one of 13 patterns that can be found in Get Hooked on Tunisian Crochet by Sheryl Thies. This book has a nice variety from sweaters and scarves to pillows and place mats. It's a fun way to hone those Tunisian crochet skills.