Tips for Selecting Yarn

When I walk into my local art supply store, I am immediately drawn to the yarn section. The color, the texture, the possibilities! ... It's like heaven on earth!

When I first started buying yarn, I didn't pay much attention to any aspect of the yarn except aesthetics. It's so pretty!!! Slowly, though, I started to notice that some yarns were nicer than others upon closer inspection. Yarn that felt nice enough in the store felt rough and unpleasant after a few minutes of running it through my fingers as I worked up my next masterpiece.

I am now much more particular when it comes to selecting yarn. Here are a couple of shopping tips to help you pick out great yarn!

** Look at colors, but check out the texture, too. Don't just spend a second or two on texture and assume it is fine. Handle the yarn as you will when you use it. Run it across your hand/fingers to get a feel for how it will be to work with. Once you are familiar with a brand/line of yarn, this is not as important... but be skeptical at first and spend some time with the yarn before you commit.

** When testing the texture of a new yarn, consider how it will feel against your skin after a few hours of wear. Just because it is beautiful doesn't mean it will be comfortable. If you're working on a baby item, make sure it is something soft enough that it won't irritate the baby's delicate skin.

** Read the label! Easy enough, right? But easy to forget, too. The label has so much information. Recommended hook size, washing instructions (vital if you're working on something that will require regular washing...), yardage, and often information on a free pattern!

** Yarn sales are AMAZING!! I love them and buy more than I care to admit when a good sale is on. When you're stocking up at the big sale, keep in mind that, generally, one skein of yarn is not big enough to complete a project. As a general rule, I always buy at least 2 of any yarn I really like so I'm not as likely to run out.

** If you do run out of that amazing yarn you found on sale last season and isn't carried at your store anymore... check out Amazon!! They have a fabulous yarn selection and they haven't failed me yet when I've needed another ball of yarn that I can't find locally!

Happy crocheting!

Granny Square Baby Blanket (Pattern)

Granny Square Baby Blanket

A couple of months ago my cousin had a baby girl! Babies are awesome in their own right... but my favorite part (other than the obvious baby cuddles, laughs and smiles, of course... nothing beats that!) is getting to make super cute little blankets! I didn't have a ton of time when I went to make this because my sister was traveling to visit them and I wanted to send it with her instead of shipping it to them. I decided to go with a pretty basic design, a granny square! I alternated colors throughout the square and finished it with a round of single crochet (just to keep the edges as clean as possible) followed by a scalloped edge.

For this project I used Caron Simply Soft yarn in soft pink, watermelon, berry blue, blue mint, sage and sunshine. When I first learned how to make a basic granny square, I found this Ms. Craft Nerd video and this Bella Coco video helpful. There are tons and tons of fancy granny squares out there but this one is about as basic as it gets.

The pattern:

ch (chain)
dc (double crochet)
sl st (slip stitch)
cluster (3 dc together)

Ch 4. Sl st into the first chain to create a loop. Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc). Dc into the loop to create a cluster of 3 dc (repeat to make 4 clusters, ch 2 between the clusters). Ch 2 after your 4th cluster and sl st into the ch 2 of your first cluster to join the first and last clusters.

*Ch 2 (counts as a dc), create a cluster of 3 dc in the same space as the chain up. Ch1, create a cluster in the next open space, ch 1 (repeat to the corner). When in a corner of the square, create a cluster, ch 2, and create a second cluster in the same space.  Continue creating clusters in each open space until you reach your starting point. Sl st into your ch 2 of your first cluster to join the first and last clusters of this round.*

Repeat * until you get the size you want. I had 23 rounds (including the center, not including the single crochet and scalloped edge rounds) in my newborn baby blanket. Finish with an edging or leave it square.

To add the scalloped edging:

Single crochet around your square (start about an inch to an inch and a half to the left of a corner of your blanket). After you go all the way around, sl st to join your first and last sc.

**Skip 2 stitches from your sl st, dc 5 times into the 3rd stitch, skip 2 stitches, sc into the 3rd stitch.**

Continue ** around the square, working 8 dc into the corners to make them round properly. When you get towards the end of your square, eyeball and adjust where your last couple of scallops go so that the last couple are not too crowded or spread out (i.e. skip a stitch/add a stitch in the last couple to avoid crowding/gaps in the last scallop).

I found this video helpful when learning to add a scalloped edge. It's a crochet for knitters video but the core concepts are good.

Happy crocheting!

Open Square Summer Scarf (Pattern)

Open Square Scarf with Fringe

I scoured the internet for a couple of days looking for a spring/summer scarf pattern that I liked. There are so many to choose from! I wanted something simple but elegant and I found several that I bookmarked for another time. The pattern that caught my attention and wouldn't be set aside for later is the open square scarf. The open pattern keeps it from feeling too heavy for warmer weather and it is beautiful just hanging in my closet. Even more so when paired with some dark wash jeans, a cute t-shirt or tank and flats! 

When your nephew wants to try it on first, you can't say no to that sweet face :)

The yarn I used was Lion Brand Yarns Heartland Tweed in Mount Rainier Tweed. It has a lovely color variation if you look at it closely but the simplicity of the overall effect is very nice (see picture below). It took about 1 1/2 balls of yarn to complete this project (approximately 300 yards). The final dimensions for my scarf are 7 feet long by 10 inches wide, not counting the tassel. The tassel adds about 8 inches to each end. It's a great length to wind around your neck in a wide loop to keep it off the front of your neck!

Lion Brand Yarns Heartland Tweed in Mount Rainier Tweed 

I found this pattern on youtube, you can view the tutorial video here. I have provided my interpretation of the written pattern below because the written pattern was either not available or not in english. 

This pattern is made up of triple crochet and chain stitches. I used a medium weight yarn and 6 mm crochet hook. 

The pattern:

tc (triple crochet)
ch (chain)

Ch in multiples of 6+4 to your desired width. 

Ch 3 additional (this creates your first tc on the edge). Tc into the 5th chain from your hook. Tc into the next chain space.

*Ch 2. Skip 2 chain spaces, tc into the 3rd chain space, tc into the next chain space.*

Repeat * until there is only one chain space left in the row. Tc into the last chain space. (This will make 3 tc in a row at the end.)

**Ch 3, turn your work, ch 2 more. Tc twice into each open square space, ch 2 in between each set of tc. Repeat until you reach the last open space. This will leave you with extra space at the end. Tc into the last chain up space to create your 3rd tc for the edge.**

Repeat ** until you have reached your desired length for the scarf.

Tip: each row will begin and end with 3 tc. The middle of the scarf will be in sets of 2 tc.

Add a fringe if you like but it was nice without it as well!

Happy crocheting!