Good morning! Hope everyone had a great week.
I want to share a couple of random things I’ve finished lately… first, don’t laugh too much… my first woven scarf…
I bought a beginner class on craftsy & this was the first project, a scrap busting scarf.
A random 6″ square
pattern is my blo 6″ square
and the ends are finally woven in on my random odd scrap sock
Do you remember way back in October mentioning I was working on some fall colored scrap afghans? It started life as my work demo project for Michael’s – at the time I didn’t have samples for classes I needed to work on, so I could crochet anything I wanted. I’ve discovered that my crocheting (or knitting) generates much more interest & excitement if I use LOTS of bright colors, so this was the project to take. And in November I shared a couple of finished afghans with you.
Well I finally managed to complete, finish weaving in the yarn ends, & photograph the last one… which was made using just the main motif, and not the two smaller ones, so it’s more of a regular afghan than a “quilt”.
I joined these using one of those methods that helps to make a bigger afghan, and tried to add a decent size border as well, in order to get a decent size lapghan.
The final size ended up about 35″ by 43″ – a little small, but OK.
It’s been added to the afghan donation pile – which thinking of, I’ve dropped off two bags worth of afghans so far, with two more bags to go. When I say bags, I mean STUFFED FULL of afghans, at least 20, is in each bag. Lots of warm laps!
Remember when I showed you that funny bit of knitting & asked you to guess what it was?
and
I also finished a while back, but finally blocked & took photos of my knitted New Edge, using scrap purple sock yarns
And while I have your attention, if you missed it, there’s still lots of time to join us in our crafty book challenge! Won’t you please join us & help spread the word?
I’m also doing feature & follow Friday this week…
the question is…
Who is your favorite villain from a book?
I instantly thought of Cruella de Vil from 101 Dalmations (the book, not the movie), but I think my all time favorite would be He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named from Harry Potter. Of course.
link ups:
Good morning, and happy Friday FO!
My last Fiber Friday / Friday FO was right after Christmas, when I shared some finished scarves with you.
On my Ravelry group, Anastacia Knits Designs (please join us!) we have started a year long afghan square cal.
I’ll be putting out new designs for the group for part of the year, have a mystery surprise designer lined up for one month, & some of my members are trying their hand at designing squares for other months, so it’s going to be lots of fun!
That being said, I was a bad group moderator & designer & didn’t get to a new square for January, so I picked my two free 6″ square designs for this month.
So the last couple of days I’ve been making “Simply EZ PZ 6″ squares”
(I started joining squares as I went, but as you can see, I only joined 2 squares together when I forgot I was doing it that way!)
No, I have no idea what I’m going to do with the little 6″-ers. I do make them sometimes, but much prefer 12″ squares. I’ll probably join them as 12″ers & add to my pile. But maybe I’ll keep going & make an afghan out of just the smaller squares. All I know, is for now, I’m having fun making squares & using up scraps.
Which square do you like the best? I like the one in the last photo above – the one with the white center, the round of burgandy, and then the pretty shade of blue.
And while I have you, if you didn’t read in my earlier post, Kathryn of Crochet Concupiscence, is giving away her CROCHET book, “How Crochet Saved my Life” this weekend only on amazon for kindle. So go grab it now.
Don’t own a kindle? There’s lots of free apps that can help you read this book on any device. And if you download, please help Kathryn out by either writing a review of the book, pinning on pinterest, or tweeting about the book.
I linked to these parties:
hope you had great holidays!
I bought this pattern & quickly made several of these gorgeous Slanted & Enchanted scarves, using various acrylic scraps.
This pattern is sheer genius – short rows, but no turning or wrapping, you can use any weight yarn, and you can use up scraps of yarn – any amount longer than JUST 10″! You can’t even make a round of granny squares using 10 inches of yarn!
link ups
http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.com/
I know I’ve been busy & lost with my own thoughts lately, but I didn’t realize it had been TWO weeks since I had posted! Yikes! Well, at least it was two weeks & two months LOL
Work has been busy, I’ve been doing crochet & warm up america demos often at my local Michael’s in Dayville, CT, but no one has been taking classes. But, I’ve been doing some designing for my warm up america demos & have passed out many, many copies of square patterns for others to make – some available online (and passed out with permission) & a few that I’ve been designing myself. You can see my current WUA collection on Ravelry. First, there’s the textured square…
You may recongize the stitch pattern – it’s the same as my two recent designs published in the winter issue of Crochetvolution
squares made by my tester, QueenE79
squares made by another tester, Tinochka7
Next up: WUA Three Doubles Square
made by croknitmama
by marjos
Last one for today: WUA FPdc Square
stitched by me
by pandastamper
by ScarvesEtc
I have a few more patterns I’m working on. My goal is to provide unisex, warm squares, that are easy for a beginner, but yet interesting to stitch up. I freely give permission to anyone to use these patterns for not only their own charity use, but to use in any teaching or workshops you may be giving, in order for others to make blocks for charity too.
Thank you everyone for so many beautiful squares & letting me share your photos with my blog readers. And even bigger thanks to all of you who sent your finished squares my way!
Ogunquit Granny
Photographed on Ogunquit Beach in Maine, shows plain border
By Anastacia Zittel / http://anastaciaknits.net / anastaciaknits on Ravelry / http://www.ravelry.com/groups/anastacia-knits-designs
Materials:
o Approximately 1-2 pounds of worsted weight yarn scraps, or any desired yarn. Keep all the yarn the same weight for best results
o Size H (5.0 mm) crochet hook
Gauge: doesn’t matter
Abbreviations (pattern uses US terms):
ch: chain
sp: space
rep: repeat
ea: each
sc: single crochet
dc: double crochet
Pattern Note: This is a three quarter granny square, & will be worked flat for the majority of the pattern. Because of its construction, the afghan will always be twice as wide as it is high. It is designed for charity & stash-busting. There are two options for borders: if you do not like the proportions of the afghan as written, use the second “granny square” border.
Pattern:
This section is worked flat, turning after each row.
Row 1: Ch 4, (dc, ch 2, 3 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in 4th ch from hook: 7 dc made.
Row 2: Ch 4 (counts as dc and ch 1 sp, now & throughout), turn, * (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc-corner made) in ch 2 sp, ch 1, rep from * once more, dc in 4th ch of beg ch 4: 14 dc made.
Row 3: Ch 3 (counts as dc, now & throughout), turn, dc in next ch 1 sp, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next ch 2 sp, ch 1, 3 dc in next ch 1 sp (this forms the beginning of the bottom of the afghan), ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next ch 2 sp, ch 1, dc in next ch 1 sp, dc in 3rd ch of beg ch 4: 19 dc made.
Row 4: Ch 4, turn, 3 dc in next ch 1 sp, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next ch 2 sp, ch 1, * (3 dc in next ch 1 sp,), ch 1, rep from * once more, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next ch 2 sp, ch 1, 3 dc in next ch 1 sp, ch 1, dc in 3rd ch of beg ch 3: 25 dc made.
Row 5: Ch 3, turn, dc in next ch 1 sp, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 1) in ea ch 1 sp across until corner, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next ch 2 sp, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 1) in ea ch 1 sp across until next corner, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next ch 2 sp, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 1) in ea ch 1 sp across until last ch 1 sp, dc in ch 1 sp, dc in 3rd ch of beg ch 4.
Row 6: Ch 4, turn, 3 dc in next ch 1 sp, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 1) in ea ch 1 sp across until corner, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next ch 2 sp, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 1) in ea ch 1 sp across until next corner, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next ch 2 sp, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 1) in ea ch 1 sp across until last ch 1 sp, dc in 3rd ch of beg ch 3.
Rep rows 5 & 6 as many times as desired, changing colors at will. When afghan is desired size, do not end off, but change to desired border color in last stitch of row 6.
Plain Border:
Use this border if you want to keep the proportions the same as already established.
You will now be working in rounds.
Round 1: Ch 1, do not turn. Working across top edge of afghan, 2 sc in ea dc across top. * 3 sc in corner, 2 sc in ea dc across & ch 1 sp across until next corner. Rep from * twice more, join with a sl st to 1st sc.
Round 2: Ch 1, work a round of reverse sc all the way around afghan.
Granny Border:
Use this border if you want to add some “height” to your finished afghan – see photo above.
Round 1: Ch 5 (forms the beginning of the first corner), do not turn. Working into the top of the last dc made from the body of the afghan, 3 dc, ch 1. (3 dc, ch 1) into the base of every other dc across top of afghan until next corner, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) into 3rd ch of beg ch 3. Sk ch 1 sp made from beg ch 4 from body of afghan, ch 1, * (3 dc, ch 1) in ea ch 1 sp across until next corner, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next corner, rep from * once more, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 1) across last side of afghan until beg of round 1, 2 dc in last dc, join with a sl st to ch 3rd ch of beg ch 5.
Round 2: Sl st into first corner, ch 5, 3 dc in same corner sp. * Ch 1, (3 dc, ch 1) in ea ch 1 sp across until next corner, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in corner ch 2 sp. Rep from * twice more, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 1) in ea ch 1 sp across until last corner, 2 dc in corner sp, join with a sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch 5.
Repeat round 2 as many times as desired for border.
End off. Weave in ends. Show off!
Thank you to my tech editor, Kristin LeMoine (kri on Ravelry).
Thanks to pandastamper, mercylullaby, ladyfernaco, grayhare, blogstarr, marjos, poodlemama9, dtf1983, & honeystalks for their test crocheting skills. As always I couldn’t do it without all of you.
Feel free to make as many of these as you like for local craft fairs/auctions/raffles/bazaars, but please do not sell finished items online. If making for charity, please let me know the name of the charity & include my contact info with the item (anastaciaknits on Ravelry). If you have any questions or comments or just want to join like-minded souls, please join my Ravelry group at http://www.ravelry.com/groups/anastacia-knits-designs or on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AnastaciaKnits
I finished weaving in the ends, & here is the second fall scrap afghan…
I have enough motifs already stitched up to do a 3rd I think, I just need to figure out a border/joining color.
Believe it or not, I don’t think I have anything in my stash that will work – I’ve been really using up the acrylic stash lately & I’m getting down there.
Have you joined us on facebook yet? please stop by & say hi
Good morning!
I wanted to share an afghan I started a couple of months ago. It’s been my demo project when I’ve been crocheting at my local Michael’s for a demo. I’ve discovered that bright, colorful afghans, catch people’s attention & works much better than smaller projects.
After my first four hour demo, the afghan looked like this…
and after the second demo, the afghan looked like this…
and after a night of stitching at home, I had this…
Simply EZ PZ 6 inch square, a quick & easy square designed for charity
By Anastacia Zittel / http://anastaciaknits.net /
http://www.ravelry.com/groups/anastacia-knits-designs
Materials: 15 grams of worsted weight yarn (30 yards), size I (5.5 mm) crochet hook
Gauge: 1st round measures 2” across.
Measurements: 6” across
Abbreviations (pattern uses US terms):
ch: chain
sl st: slip stitch
rep: repeat
sk: skip
dc: double crochet
beg V st: beginning V stitch: sl st into next st, ch 4, dc in same st
V st(s): v stitch(s): (dc, ch 1, dc) in same st
Pattern Note:
Pattern:
Ch 4, join with a sl st to form a circle.
Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as 1st dc, now and throughout), 15 dc in circle, join with a sl st to 1st dc; 16 dc made.
Round 2: Ch 4, dc in same dc, * sk next dc, (dc, ch 4, dc: corner made) in next dc. Sk next dc, V st in next dc. Rep from * two times more, sk next dc, (dc, ch 4, dc) in next dc, join with a sl st to 3rd ch of beg V st: 4 V sts & 8 dc made.
Round 3: Beg V st, dc in next dc, ch 1. * (Dc, ch 4, dc) in corner. Ch 1, dc in next dc, V st in next V st, dc in next dc, ch 1. Rep from * two times more, (dc, ch 4, dc) in corner, ch 1, dc in next dc, join with a sl st to 3rd ch of beg V st: 4 V sts & 16 dc made.
Round 4: Beg V st, (dc in next dc, ch 1) twice. * (Dc, ch 4, dc) in corner. (Ch 1, dc in next dc) twice, V st in next V st, (dc in next dc, ch 1) twice. Rep from * two times more, (dc, ch 4, dc) in corner, (ch 1, dc in next dc) twice, join with a sl st to 3rd ch of beg V st: 4 V sts & 24 dc made.
Round 5: Ch 1, sc in same st. Sc in next 7 sts. * 4 sc in corner. Sc in next 13 sts. Rep from * two times more, 4 sc in corner, sc in next 5 sts, join with a sl st to 1st sc: 68 sc made.
End off. Weave in ends.
Many thanks to my testers, Nifertiti83, ScarvesEtc, marjos, Kaikelasa, & dtf1983!
Feel free to make as many of these as you like for local craft fairs/auctions/raffles/bazaars, but please do not sell finished items online. If making for charity, please let me know the name of the charity & include my contact info with the item (http://anastaciaknits.net). If you have any questions or comments or just want to join like-minded souls, please join my Ravelry group at http://www.ravelry.com/groups/anastacia-knits-designs. Thanks!
Hi guys! yup, i’m back with more fiber fun!
I finished up this afghan a good month or so ago, finished up weaving in the ends a couple of weeks later – and then procrastinated taking photos.
I even lugged it with me on a day trip or two, but never managed to take photos then, either. But… such is life. here’s my finished ribbon afghan, started earlier this year (march, if my rav notes are correct)….
ribbon afghan, scrap acrylics, added to the local nursing home donation pile…
