6/6/2021 Pattern: Cluster Puff
Click here to download the .pdf directly. Pattern is also available on Ravelry.
This little ditty came about when I first learned foundation single crochet and starting fiddling around with some scraps. I ended up creating a little decoration for a posy vase (repurposed from a soda bottle). While the posies, the bottle, and the decoration are long gone, I have revived the pattern, bringing it over to the new template and updating the lexicon, and created a few samples with varying weights of yarn. I also renamed it Cluster Puff so as to be a cheeky play on words that also happens to be more descriptive of the stitching. Quick Facts: -very suitable for scraps! -recommend at least 1 yd lengths of yarn -hook should be appropriate to the weight of yarn used -highly recommend blocking as the piece tends to twist when unblocked 6/5/2021 Pattern: Flowerish Octagon
Click here to download the .pdf directly. Motif is also available on Ravelry.
When my cousin commissioned me to make a blanket for her to give as a wedding gift to her step-son, I became inspired by a wall-hanging I had and started designing several octagons. Adam had also recently designed an octagon-shaped shaped cabin, so octagons were on the brain. Of the octagons I designed, my cousin liked this one the best, so it's the one that got incorporated into the blanket design. The pattern offers two versions. Pictured is the first version which is worked in rounds without turning. The second version turns after each of the first three rounds which creates a subtle texture that resembles a flower, hence the name: Flowerish Octagon.
I titled the blanket Stop in the Name of Love, and it combines knitting and crochet. Even though I created it 11 years ago, I have still yet to publish the pattern. In the meantime, feel free to contact me, though, if you want some guidance as to how I made it.
6/5/2021 Pattern: Celebration Leaves!
Click here to download the .pdf directly. Square is also available on Ravelry.
About 10 years ago, upon seeing a blanket I had recently completed, my step-dad commented on how he liked how the squares came together to appear as if they were layered tiers. His comment inspired me to make a blanket for him to use in his office while napping between clients. He enjoys being in nature: has taken several extended canoe trips, has had all kinds of backpacking and camping experiences, enjoys hiking with my mom, and has even published a couple books on wilderness experiences. So I wanted his blanket to reflect nature as much as possible in color and theme. I'm not sure I really nailed it on the colors, haha, but the leaf lace seemed like a perfect fit. The blanket incorporates 8 sampler squares, of which Celebration Leaves! is one. When I originally learned leaf-lace, I knew I someday wanted to incorporate it into a design in some way, and the lace and bobble patterning between the leaves reminds me of trumpets blowing to celebrate nature, hence the name: Celebration Leaves! (don't forget the exclamation point).
The blanket itself is called Squares Dancing in Harmony and is, as of this writing, only available on Ravelry, but it is also free there as well.
5/28/2021 Pattern: M'sters XS
Click here to download .pdf directly. Pattern also available on Ravelry.
2021--Just a note: Weebly seems to be acting goofy, and when I view this post from the site editor, it shows an image of my Ever Evolveeeng afghan square. If you are seeing that as well, don't let it throw you off, this is indeed the pattern for the miniature Frankenstein monster.
The last apartment I lived in was in a neighborhood that saw plenty of Trick-or-Treaters come Beggar's Night. Our first Halloween there, on a whim, I started whipping up little stuffed crochet candy corns to handout instead of candy. The apartment was that of Adam's mother and brother, and his mom also handed out candy, so don't worry, if you were...the kids got some tooth-rotters as well. The stuffed candy corns were a big hit, and there was one family in particular who usually came later in the night who, when they came back the next year, said that they hoped we still lived there as they liked the candy corns so much. They kept them out and played with them year-round. They wanted to see what I would have in store the next year, and the next. I only ever spoke to those people on Halloween for a few minutes at the door. Their costumes were always elaborate and original. One year, the boy-age 11 or 12 maybe--went as a venus fly trap, the plant. He had done such a good job that I knew what he was, he didn't have to tell me. Anyway, I had so much fun that first year that I made it a tradition and went on to make something different each year and designed a few different miniatures to handout. M'sters XS represents maybe the 4th or 5th year that I was adhering to the tradition. In fact, I designed them for our 3rd Halloween as nomads and handed them out at a food bank where I happened to be volunteering on Halloween. The next year, our 4th Halloween as nomads, I hammered out the pattern, published it, and gave the samples (pictured) to the gals at McDonald's where we bought coffee and sandwiches on Halloween morning. When writing up the pattern, I came up with the idea to use white in place of the green and use a piece of pine needle in the neck (to represent a knitting needle) to make a Micheal Myers doll. I plan to publish the knit version in time for Halloween this year. Some quick pattern facts: Yarn ... medium weight 7 yards/6.5 m of a Main Color and 2 yards/1.8 m of a Contrast Color Hook ... 3.5mm Additional Materials ... 3 pinches stuffing, embroidery needle, approx. 12"/30cm red embroidery floss, optional: toothpick or dry pine needle for embellishment After making a few, pattern is not difficult to memorize and takes about 20-30 minutes per doll. |
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