The Highpoint of Designing

The high point of designing and making a garment is to see it on a person. This was mostly my reward when I was designing and making clothes for other people, it is no different in crocheted garment. I love to see people wearing what I've made, especially when I know that they really appreciate the warmth that the garment provides.

In the photos, I've shown how the scarf may be worn depending on how cold it is. I hope whoever tries to make this pattern appreciates it as much as I do. I would appreciate a comment from those who wants to try making this pattern which I'm offering free for personal use and charitable purposes. And yes, you may sell items made from this pattern but not the pattern itself. Instructions for this scarf is found on my 3 posts before this one.

Scarf Edging 3rd And Final Round

Photo #6(above) shows the end of final round (R3)


Photo#4 Scarf Edging(above) demonstrate Round 3. Click on photo to enlarge.


Photo#5 (above) Scarf edging. upper portion of photo shows part of scarf with only 2 rounds of edging. The bottom portion shows partly done 3 rounds of edging.


After comparing how the scarf looks with only 2 rounds of edging and the other end which shows 3 rounds of edging, I decided that I like the scarf better with 3 rounds of edging. The 3rd round (R3) is basically a repeat of R2, the only minor difference is in doing the corners; and instead of sc on midchain of chain5, you are doing sc on midchain of ch3. So here's the 3rd and final round
--yeahhh, almost done!!! I'm ready to get back on other UFO's that had been put aside, in favor of this one.

Scarf Edging Last Round (R3) Instructions:

R3 Sl to midch (of ch3 between 2 esc(s), ch5 *esc on same midch, ch1, esc on nx midch,ch3.* Repeat from *to * all around except on all corners of the scarf.

On corners do: esc-ch3-esc on 1st ch of ch3, ch1, skip midch, esc-ch3-esc on 3rd ch of ch3, ch1, esc nx midch. Resume *to*. End with sc on 2nd ch of R3 starting ch5. See photo #6. Hide the end of yarn by weaving in ends using a yarn needle.

The completed scarf will be shown on my next post.

Scarf Edging

(please click on photo to enlarge) Photo#1 (above) shows Scarf edging R1





Photo #2 (Above) shows scarf edging R1 completed.





Photo #3 (above) Scarf Edging
Please click on photo to enlarge. Photo shows round 1(R1) and round 2 (R2) of scarf edging. Round2 (R2) is incomplete.

Scarf Edging Instructions:

Terms and Abbreviations:

midch=middle chain, e.g. midch of ch5 is the 3rd ch; midch of ch3 is the 2nd ch from hook, etc.

fblp (fbl)= front and back loop

After sc on fl of last row (of scarf main fabric), don't fasten off but continue to do the edging.

R1 Working on Vertical side (width) of scarf,[Ch5, sk2 esc posts, sc on nx ch1 sp (space between esc posts, See photo #1]. Repeat [ ] up to the corner of the scarf (this makes 8 ch5 loops on this side of the scarf). End this side with sc on the base of beginning turning ch3 of R1.

Working on the horizontal side (length) of scarf,[ ch5, sk1 side post, sc on nx sp (side post)], refer to photo for clarification. Repeat [ ] until last side post. Sc on the corner esc. Repeat the Vertical side instructions to continue. Repeat the Horizontal side instructions and end R1 with sc on the base of R1 starting ch5. See photo#2.


R2 Ch4, [esc on midch of nx ch5(catch fblp), ch3, esc on same midch, ch1]. Repeat [ ] around except at corners: Make [dc-ch3-dc on sc of previous round(R1)]. Repeat [ ] on 3 corners. Ending this round with dc-ch3-sc on the 3rd ch of starting ch4 (count the 3rd ch from the sc of previous row).

At this point I have not made up my mind whether to finish the edging at r2 or add more rounds with more complicated design. AAAAAAHHHH---- the agony of writing out the process. I admire the professional crochet designers more and more, now that I'm trying to write out what I do so easily with my hands. I will post photo of the final product.

It's Time To Get Back To Crochet -- (Posting, that is)

Please Click on the picture to enlarge and see the text within the picture.


It's been a while since I posted anything regarding crochet, so to get back on blogging, I'm posting my current crochet WIP. I'm posting instructions on how to make this scarf. The main body of the scarf is simple to make but the lace edging will be more complicated. I will post instructions for a simplier edging for those who finds the lace edging so complicated. Above is a photo of starting row. You increase the length of the scarf by doing as many rows to accomplish the desired length. The lace edging is done after the main body of the scarf is completed.

I like the __Ch1__as in sc-ch1-sc or esc-ch1-esc combination because it is fast and makes crocheted fabric that is very flexible and drapeable, specially, when you use this combination stitch technique with soft yarns such as Caron Simply Soft. This stitch combination is appropriate for making garments, however, I would not recommend it for items that will be tugged on or pulled such as baby blankets or other items that needs to be firm or stable such as place mats etc. The stitches on the main body of the scarf are worked on fl(front loops) only and are loosely made.

Materials:

Yarn: Caron Simply Soft, worsted, wt=med.(4); 1 skein of 6oz/170g; 315 yds/288 meters
Crochet Hook: Boye G/6-4.25mm
Gauge: 5 stitches = 1 inch; 2 rows = 1 inch (unstretched)

Stitches Used: Ch, Sc, Esc(same as dsc), Dc

Crochet Terms and Abbreviations used:

ch = Chain

sc = single crochet

esc(dsc)= extended single crochet (dsc =double single crochet)

ch1fl =chain-one front loop, this is created by the ch1 between 2 esc(s). For short this would be referred in this pattern as simply fl.

Sk = skip

sp = space

lp = loop

Sl = slip stitch

nx = next

St = stitch



The Pattern

Foundation chain = Ch29 + 3 (turning chain)

R1 esc on 4th chain from hook. *ch1, sk1 ch, esc nx st (ch)*. Repeat from* to* until there are 16 esc posts. Ch3, turn.

R2 *esc on next front loop, ch1*. Repeat from * to * until there are 16 esc posts. Ch3, turn.
Note: Please refer to the photo above to identify the fl (front loop to which the hook is inserted for making the esc(s).

Repeat R2 as many times needed to complete desired length. I'm a petit woman so I made a total of 96 rows. The scarf will hang a little bit below my waistline.

This is all for now. The edging instructions will be posted on my next post.

A note on where I learned the dsc or esc stitch: Encyclopedia of Crochet by Donna Kooler. This is really a good book with beautiful photo of different stitches and instructions for doing crochet stitches for both lefth-handed and right handed crocheters.

I hope you try this wonderful stitch combination. This is mainly the technique I've used on all the shawls and scarves that I've made.

First Snow fall in 2009

Please Disregard the date on the Photo (I forgot to adjust the date on my camera)
This and photos below were taken December 5, 2009. Our first and probably last snowfall this year.



Disregard the date on photo ( Everytime I change battery on my camera the date has to be reset and I keep forgetting to do this) . This and subsequent photos are taken Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009.
The snow accumulation is about 3 inches in some places but as you can see, there are bare spots not totally covered by the Snow. It was pretty waking up in the morning and all the trees and low growing bushes covered with this white stuff from heaven.

The last Blooms of My Garden 2009

Pink Zinnias, Can you believe that these are still in bloom on 11/07/2009?
This is supposed to be bright red-orange Zinnias but somehow it did not come out in its bright original color. Must be the bright light of the sun clashing against the flash of my camera.
Oh Well, But I still love the colors. I would like to capture these beauties in crochet. We'll see what happens.


I have problem saying goodbye even to my annual flowers. I know they must go but I just don't have the heart to pull them out of the ground when they are still blooming prettily. So I thought I would just wait until mother nature claims them for herself. I took pictures of them, since I thought they were remarkable for toughing out the cold spells that started way back on the first week of October. The other Zinnias have long dried out, but these group which is planted
in a partially shaded area, sheltered from the wind by our cabin really looks healthy. Can you see the moth or is it butterfly? I have to look it up for I don't know right now.