Pink Rose Shawl

I am going to try to give you a walk-through to this pretty piece. I have never done instructions before soo... Okay, here it goes.

First off I do not have a hairpin loom, I have a cut coat hanger, shaped into a U. 

It's 3 inches wide from one prong to another. A friend was asking how I kept count of the loops well, I keep the tags from my bread. I am using a size 3mm hook with a light (3) yarn.

 

Crude, but effective

This fan pattern is done in multiples of 30 +15 to make it begin and end with  the large 15 loop groups on one side, and the 5 clusters of 3 loops each on the other side. I am working so that there is 225 loops on each side, the finished project should be about 8 inches for every 45 loops.

The original pattern I have used once before for a shawl I made a few weeks ago, but I modified how many I chain at the ends of each 225 loop sections for this one. I don't take it off the loom I am using before I start making the clusters I take it off the loom as I crochet up one side so I don't twist my work. Right after making the right number of loops I chain 4 and SL ST into the first chain to make a Picot, chain 6 and start making the first 15 loop cluster SC them together and chain 4 to make another Picot, chain 5 and SC in the first set of 3 loops and make another Picot. Always chain 5 between each each cluster.
Side 1
**sc 15 loops together, ch4 picot in the sc, ch 5 *sc 3 loops together, ch5. Repeat from * to make 5, 3 loop clusters, repeat from ** until the end. Ch6 sc into middle of strip ch4 picot in sc, ch6 and start on next side.
Side 2
*sc 3 loops together, ch5. Repeat from * to make 5, 3 loop clusters, sc 15 loops together chain 5 and repeat from * at the end ch6 and sl st in very first picot made, fasten off.

Make two of these strips.

Now onto the middle I wasn't exactly sure if I can use this diagram (I prefer using diagrams over written instructions,) but I will give credit where its due This is from Donna Kooler's Encyclopedia of Crochet. If you do not have it, I suggest you get it. More so if you are a lefty (like me) because of the left and right hand stitch instructions. I have seen others on many websites post other materials from this book.

Before you finish the fifth row, you join 3 picots to one strip, and 3 to the other strip. I will get to the picot, ch1, then sl sp into a picot onto the stips [the picot above the 15 loop clusters and the 3rd, 3 loop clusters for the fans.] 8 of these motifs are needed for this. Unless you are making the pattern longer or shorter.

I think I may add one more hairpin strip to each side to make it wider. I will let you know when I get there. I still have 3 more roses to add.

I hope this made sense. and sorry it took a little longer to put up. Little man let me sleep in for a change.

UPDATE:http://youtu.be/EsXYFV-SyVE

Finished Gift

I am happy that this has turned out, seeing as I have not done anything like this before.

I was originally to make a few dresses, but my sewing machine seems to be picky at what it sews, so I made a matching stuffed animal instead. The stuffed animal is currently being test run by my son before it goes in the wash, I am figuring if it can withstand an active 16 month old, it can withstand a little girl.

Video Tutorial can be found from The Crochet Crowd's video. However, since I was working in the round, I did not have that extra stitch to keep it even looking, There are 15 scales for each row.

I actually took a chance and sewed the fabric under the wings with my machine, leaving room for me to attach the wings on like I would normally attach two pieces of crochet together.

Now to wash the dress and owl and put them aside for the next week.

Tiny Little Dress for a Tiny Little Miss

It's my niece's first birthday coming up, The hubby and I went shopping for some larger clothes for our son, he bought me this pink Italian crochet thread, I already had the fabric laying around... It seamed only natural. Okay, I will hide in a corner for that one. I was sweating there for a bit because I have never gotten around to properly fixing the cam assembly to my sewing machine and it has been a few years since I ran anything through it. Apparently nothing a little painters tape and steady hands couldn't fix.

The hardest part was merging the bodice to the skirt, only because it took more time to do then crocheting the bodice or sewing the skirt individually.

It needs to be washed and given a light ironing, little man wanted to sit on the fabric and play with it any chance he got. I may just boil a pot of water and steam the wrinkles out. Not bad for a first try, I have actually been wanting to do something like this with some open lace work to make a shirt or dress for myself.

I altered a pattern I found from H&G TV, since I have never done anything like this before I wanted to get the sizing close as possible.

The dress is sized for a one year old, but my niece is also extremely dainty so it may be too big for her yet.

Butterfly lace

I have spent the last few days slowly working on some lace for a bolero scarf. I only get maybe 20 minutes max at a time to work on it, but that is okay, littleman is getting better at expressing what he wants and when he wants it.

I think the hardest part was working around the pins that was keeping its shape while I added the green.

I got the butterfly pattern from here, but none of it is in English. I will keep you updated on my progress.

Owl just leave this here

Lace Masque

I have been wanted to do this for a while, I just felt too clumsy with crochet thread up until now.

I didn't have a design in mind, but I guess it's turning into an owl.

Dragon blanket

I had actually finished this a while ago, not only was it the first tapestry style I worked on, but it is the largest thing I have made to date.

A bit of a mystery however. Shortly after I finished this blanket for the hubby, in a smoke free home, between me washing it for the first time, and taking it out of the dryer, a small portion connecting the panels.
I just never got around to fixing it until now, I wasn't sure how and it was unraveling so I stuffed it away for the last.. oh, six months.
I never did find out what happened, and nothing else in the laundry load was brunt, it was the only thing to smell burned or to have any signs of a burn. The smell is gone and the damage is fixed. It now hangs in our bedroom as decoration. Six feet tall and 4 feet wide, there aren't many places I can put this, and my son and cat fight for it everytime it's in their reach.

It's far from perfect, but I am happy that I stuck with it and finished.

Stole finished

I added a flower broach that comes off to it, it's surprisingly warm for how light it is.


I guess this means that I have to stop stole'ing and work on making a pattern for these balls of crochet thread.
Okay, that was a bad pun.

Hairpin lace stole

"What's a stole?" Asked the hubby when I told him what I am making, I told him it's a fancy name for a fancy scarf.

So I have seen pictures and stumbled upon instructions and video to this before. I never really bothered before, nor do I really have the proper equipment. Buwahaha, the right tools have never stopped me before (I swear those will be my last words one day.)

I found an old mishapen metal hanger near the washer and dryer and just used  a pair of side cutters to take the hook part off. 

 TA-DA!

Okay, so it's a very crude frame but effective. I don't have the money to spend on a thing that I may never use ever again if I don't like it. I looked at a few tutorial videos and thought this one was the best by 

stitchdiva. It was the best for seeing what was going on visually.

I have gotten the hang of it. This is just usuing one stitch type of hairpin lace, using regular crochet to finish and join the strips.

Link to the instructions can be founr here.

Now if you excuse me. I apparently have a winter boot to chase down.