New Year, New Pattern

Yes, we're more than a week into 2018, and yes, this actually did get published last week. So I'm a bit late. But not really, since school here didn't start back up until this Monday, so it hasn't really felt like the new year until this week. And then it rained for two days, which in Las Vegas is a really big deal. The last rainfall we had here was September 13th. That's nearly three months with no rain. 

So it's no wonder I've been dragging a bit with everything else. 

Anyway, my most recent pattern is now live on ILikeCrochet Magazine! 

Here's the web address: https://www.ilikecrochet.com/crochet-bag-patterns/mineral-springs-cosmetic-bag/?mqsc=ILCF18

And the Ravelry database entry: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mineral-springs-cosmetic-bag

This handy little pouch uses just under a skein of Cascade Yarns Sunseeker. I wish the yarn photographed better, there's a metallic thread spun into it that gives quite a bit of sparkle. But it's still a nice looking zipper pouch, if I do say so myself!

Seasonal Change Cowl

It's here! My newest design, the Seasonal Change Cowl:

The weather is getting cooler. The days are getting shorter. And the leaves will soon begin to turn.

This cowl takes less than a skein of Malabrigo Rios. And it works up quick - one of my testers finished in an afternoon. It's perfect for a last-minute fall accessory, and even better for those last-minute handmade holiday gifts.

The pattern is available for sale in both my Ravelry and Craftsy stores.

Pattern Tease

This Seasonal Change Cowl is coming, just in time for fall.

Frogging party

What have I done. Oh, dear. It's pretty awful...and yet, awfully optimistic.
Two projects, frogged. Here are the before pictures:

And the after:

So what happened? Well, I failed to admit that this just wasn't turning out how I'd envisioned it, and remained stubbornly determined that it would be perfect just as soon as it was finished. But it wasn't, no matter how pretty this lace is:

And I grew more upset with it, the more I looked at it, so a-frogging I went.
By the way, single-ply alpaca silk does not like to be frogged. At all.

Then, a decision that this other piece wasn't doing anything spectacular for me, either, so why not just rip it out and make something better? (Tosh DK, on the other hand, doesn't mind being frogged at all.) Although I do like the lace on it, so I might use the stitch pattern somewhere else:

I totally admit, that if I'd made these in acrylic or even some cheap wool like Cascade 220, they would probably be relegated to the bag of finished-objects-I-never-use for eternity. (It's a real thing. In a dark corner of my closet.)
But these aren't cheap yarns, that's Blue Sky Fibers Metalico, and a skein of madelinetosh. Those are yarns that need to be something!
So, a-frogging I went.

And now I know what doesn't work, which means I'm just that much closer to something that does. 

Wintersong is LIVE!

Hello all! Just a quick post to announce that the pattern for my Wintersong Headband is now live, and available in both my Ravelry and Craftsy stores!

This is a quick-to-make, one-skein project using bulky weight yarn. The original sample (pictured above) uses about half a skein of Berocco Vintage Chunky yarn, which is an acrylic/wool blend - but you can use whichever bulky-weight yarn you wish!

Like all of my paid patterns, this one includes both full written instructions and a chart. You don't have to know how to read a crochet chart to make this pattern, but if your preference is to work from a chart instead of written directions, you'll be able to make this, too!

Here's the Ravelry listing: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/wintersong-headband
And the Craftsy listing: https://www.craftsy.com/crocheting/patterns/wintersong-headband/476552

Autumn Cowl

Hey look at this...another free pattern! Really. Why? Because I designed it at the same time as the Autumn Beanie, and since I made that one available for free, I figured I could share this one, too.
Also, both the cowl and the hat together use less than a skein of Dream in Color Classy, so you get two projects from one skein. Pretty nice, don't you think?

Autumn Cowl
by Katherine Larson

Finished size: 20.5 in / 52 cm circumference, 3 in / 7.5 cm tall
Skills needed: Foundation single crochet, chain, single crochet, double crochet

Materials:

Yarn: Dream In Color Classy (4oz/113g, 250yds/229m, 100% superwash merino wool), 1 skein or

50g, 100yds/92m worsted weight yarn 

Tools: H/5mm crochet hook or size needed to meet gauge

Tapestry needle

Gauge: 14 sts and 8 rows = 4”/10mm in body pattern

Notes: The cowl is worked continuously in the round. 

Abbreviations:

Fsc – Foundation single crochet

Ch – Chain

Sc – Single crochet

Dc – Double crochet

Sl st – slip stitch

V-st – Dc, ch 1, dc in same st.

Cowl

Fsc 72. Join with sl st to work in round.

Rnd 1: Ch 4 (counts as dc, ch 1 here and throughout), dc in same st, skip 2 sts, 3 dc in next st, skip 2 sts, *V-st in next st, skip 2 sts, 3 dc in next st, skip 2 sts, repeat from * around, join with sl st to beginning dc.

Rnd 2: Sl st to ch-1 sp, ch 3 (counts as dc here and throughout), 2 dc in same sp, skip 2 sts, V-st in next st, skip 2 sts, *3 dc in next st, skip 2 sts, V-st in next st, skip 2 sts, repeat from * around, join with sl st to beginning dc.

Repeat rnd 1 and 2 once, then repeat rnd 1.

Rnd 6: Ch1, sc in same st, sc in each st around, join with sl st to beginning sc.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

January Blues and a Pattern Tease

Well, I didn't think it was possible, but I've managed to ruin a batch of Rice Krispy Treats. Apparently, if you melt the butter and marshmallows at too high heat, they caramelize a bit and you wind up with rock-hard treats that do not want to be cut into smaller bars. It was my first time making these on our new range, and I guess the front burners really do burn hotter than the back ones. Whoops.
The good news is, 4-year-olds don't mind the giant-crisped-rice-marshmallow-brick, they just see an excuse to gnaw on a massive block of sugary goodness.

So it's mid-January, the holidays are behind us, the rest of winter still to come...so I decided it's time to roll out another pattern.

Is my nose really that long?  Maybe it's the angle. Tim was my photographer - he grouses about it, but he does a pretty decent job.

I'm calling this one Wintersong. It's in testing, right now. And it will be released before the end of the month, if all goes according to plan!

Autumn Beanie

So, I've been thinking about what to do with this awesome hat pattern:

It was originally created for the book, Crochet One-Skein Wonders for Babies. And I meant to create a larger version for adults, with the idea that it would be a Parent-and-me kind of pattern.
But the numbers just don't work out, at least not in the same gauge. I could change to a DK or sportweight yarn, But I happen to like the way it looks in worsted weight. See? I made one in blue, too:

Ok, Grant didn't want his picture taken. Here's what it really looks like:

So, anyway, it was just Christmas and maybe someone put a skein of that really yummy hand-dyed wool in your stocking, and you don't know what to do with it but you're itching to make something lacy and warm at the same time, or maybe it's 6 months from now and you're looking to make a new hat for that adorable toddler in your life. Here's the pattern for this awesome little hat! I'm going to make it available for free, here on this blog.

Without further ado:

Autumn Beanie

by Katherine Larson

Finished size: 16"/40.5cm circumference (unstretched), 6.5"/16.5cm tall

Skills needed: Foundation single crochet, chain, single crochet, double crochet

Materials:

Yarn: Dream In Color Classy (4oz/113g, 250yds/229m, 100% superwash merino wool), 1 skein or

50g, 100yds/92m worsted weight yarn 

Tools: H/5mm crochet hook or size needed to meet gauge

Tapestry needle

Gauge: 14 sts and 8 rows = 4”/10mm in body pattern

Pattern notes: Brim is crocheted in one long strip, then seamed. The body is then worked from the brim up.

Abbreviations:

Fsc – Foundation single crochet

Ch – Chain

Sc – Single crochet

Sc blo – Single crochet through back loop only

Dc – Double crochet
Sl st – slip stitch

V-st – Dc, ch 1, dc in same st.

Brim:

Fsc 9.

Row 1: Ch 1, turn. Sc blo across.

Repeat row 1 (62) more times, for a total of 64 rows. Turn work and fold so last row worked aligns with foundation row. Working through the back loops of the last row worked, and the front loops of the foundation row, sl st together. Do not fasten off.

Body:

Rnd 1: Turn work 90 degrees, ch 3(counts as dc here and throughout), 2 dc in same space, sk 3 rows, *V-st in next row, skip 2 rows, *3 dc in next row skip 2 rows, repeat from * around, join with sl st to top of beginning ch3 (9 shells and 9 V-sts)

Rnd 2: Sl st in next st, ch 4 (counts as dc, ch 1 here and throughout), dc in same st, skip 2 sts, 3 dc in ch-1 sp, skip 2 sts, *V-st in next st, skip 2 sts, 3 dc in ch-1 sp, repeat from * around, join with sl st in beginning dc.

Rnd 3: Sl st to ch-1 sp, ch 3 (counts as dc here and throughout), 2 dc in same sp, skip 2 sts, V-st in next st, skip 2 sts, *3 dc in ch-1 sp, skip 2 sts, V-st in next st, repeat from * around, join with sl st in 3^rd ch of ch4.

Repeat rnds 2 and 3, then repeat rnd 2 once more.

Rnd 7: Sl st in next ch 2 sp, ch3, dc in same sp, skip 2 sts, *2 dc in next st, skip 2 sts, 2 dc in ch-1 sp, skip 2 sts, repeat from * around, join with sl st in beginning dc. (36 dc)

Rnd 8: Ch 3, dc in same sp, skip 2 sts, *2 dc in next st, skip 2 sts, repeat from * around, join with sl st in beginning dc. (24 dc)

Rnd 9: Ch 3, dc in same sp, skip 2 sts, *2 dc in next st, skip 2 sts, repeat from * around, join with sl st in beginning dc. (16 dc)

Rnd 10: Ch 3, 2 dc in next st, skip 2 sts, *2 dc in next st, skip 2 sts, repeat from * around, dc, join with sl st in beginning dc. (11 dc)

Rnd 11: Sl st in 3^rd, 5^th, and 7^th sts, sl st in beginning st and draw closed.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

Have you made this? Did you like it? Let me know! And if you'd like to make a project page on Ravelry, here's the place to do so!

New Pattern: Midwinter Headband

This Monday morning in October, the temperature is barely 60F. What a perfect day to release my new pattern, the Midwinter Headband!

It's crocheted in bulky weight yarn (the sample uses about half a skein of Berroco Vintage Chunky), featuring simple cables and a button closure. 

Finished size is 2.5”/7cm wide x 21.5”/54.5cm long, unfastened. 

And it's available for sale in both my Ravelry and Craftsy stores.

Happy Monday!

Happy Birthday to Me...

Yes, it is my birthday! And the weather is gorgeous! At least, it is here in Las Vegas. I'm not so sure about the rest of the country...

Anyway, yesterday I released a new pattern on Ravelry:

This is the unimaginatively (yet descriptively) named Ribbon Scarf. It is a one-skein project, using 100g/215 yds/197m of Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece yarn (or whichever worsted weight yarn you choose).

Oh, also, since it's my birthday, I'm having a pattern sale. 36% off patterns in my Ravelry store. (Why 36%? Because it's my 36th birthday!)

And now, I'm off to go adventuring with my boys...

Testing...testing...

Well, I've opened the test for my Ribbon Scarf.

I'm still not decided on a name, and I'm still trying to get the final photos, but neither of those are needed for the test phase. The pattern itself is completed, and that's the important part right now.
(If anyone is interested in helping, I'm running the test on Ravelry here.)(And if you're not, that's cool; I'll still announce when it's officially released.)

I took the boys to the park today. Part of this was an excuse to visit Starbucks, as it's right on the way and has a drive-thru, and I haven't had a pumpkin spice latte in a while. Part of this was a genuine need to get Clinton outside and running around. And part of it was an ill-fated attempt to get some decent photos of the scarves.
One of the nice things about living in Las Vegas is the very mild winters that make playground visits, in January, wearing sweaters instead of snowsuits, possible. It's also very, very sunny. That becomes a problem when you're attempting to take photographs of crocheted items that show off the stitches. I tried finding the areas of the park with filtered sunlight, but there weren't many. There was a park bench covered in bird poop (I wouldn't even sit there, I'm certainly not draping a handmade scarf over it), and the ground (again, I'm not going to use it as a display for my crocheted scarves). So the whole photography portion of our trip was a bust.

On the other hand, Clinton ran off a ton of energy and Grant had fun on the swings again, and I enjoyed coffee while it was still hot. So it was still a successful outing.

Names are hard.

Well, they can be. Sometimes it's a really important naming, like when I was pregnant, and Tim and I were trying to decide on names. Naming your child is pretty important. That baby is going to carry his or her name for a lifetime.
Sometimes, it's a fun, frivolous naming, such as a particular meal that someone likes and wants to ask for easily...like when Tim dubbed one of my casseroles, "Chicken Nummies".
Sometimes, it's naming a pet...Buddy found his name because he still a kitten when I got him, and the "Papi" that his previous humans called him just did not fit. But, I was too tired to come with anything clever, so he was just "the cat" to others for weeks, and I called him "little buddy" directly...and then I realize, he was Buddy.

And then there are the times that I'm sort-of naming a pet...but it's not a pet. It's a design. My DNA Scarf was pretty easy to name, since the cable design actually looks like a double-helix. My Harvest Splendor Cowl was easy to name, since it was fall colors, and using the Wheatsheaf stitch pattern.

But the newest one? I've been calling it simply, "Ribbon Scarf", since it looks like an awareness ribbon. That doesn't seem quite accurate, though. Neither does "basketweave scarf" or "toddler scarf".

Oh, I remembered why I chose pink yarn now.

Anyway, I still need to re-shoot the photos.

What I'm working on...

I have a few projects I'm working on at the moment, a few of which are actual patterns that will actually be published this year. I just need to kick my butt into gear every now and then.

Hey, remember how I mentioned that one of my patterns will be included in a print book? Funny enough, Amazon keeps sending me "you might be interested in..." links for the book. Anyway, the book is Crochet One-Skein Wonders for Babies, and my contribution is a toddler hat. The hat has a matching cowl, which isn't included in the book, but I'll be self-publishing that one this spring.
I really wish I had a picture of it to show you, but I don't. The submissions were sent out just as we were leaving Japan, and for some reason I didn't think to snap a picture before sealing the mailer and dropping it in the box. (Yes, I absolutely did think about it within minutes of leaving the post office. Whoops.)

I have two scarf patterns I'm working on, too. One is mostly completed, and should hit testing soon. The other...I love, but...wow am I fighting to put directions into words. It's a challenge, to be certain.  (But a fun one. I get a thrill every time I finish writing for the day.)

Here's a sneak peak of the scarves: